3D-PRINTING BIOPLASTICS ONTO TEXTILES

Previous research has focused on material composites created between textiles and 3d printed materials such as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), Polylactic Acid (PLA), and other common materials for additive manufacturing. However, research has also focused on the creation and different use of biomaterials such as bioplastics. The combination of biopolymers with additives and plasticizers can give remarkably comparable results to conventional plastics, giving possibilities to create material composites with a lower environmental impact. This research proposes a material composite created from the combination of a bioplastic, which fulfils the necessary parameters for AM, and a textile that can achieve a desired adhesion to the print but also can perform as expected, assessing this material through a list of parameters to determine the correct combination. The understanding of the workflow and performance of such material hybrid is crucial since there is a difference between the levels of contraction of the different materials, which allows curvature and complex shapes to be formed but also to be a self-supporting composite. The project presents the robotic set-up necessary for the material tests, as well as the required material parameters and the results of physical experimentation. Finally, it speculates about the architectural potential of the composite system through a series of physical prototypes.