Characterization of polylactic acid (PLA) mechanical properties in 3D printing: insights from advanced analysis techniques and printing orientations

This research examines the mechanical characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA) using a variety of experimental approaches, including analyses of printing orientations and the application of advanced methodologies such as digital image correlation (DIC) for accurate assessment of deformation, along with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to evaluate fracture properties. Tensile strength, flexural, impact strength, compressive and shear strength were characterized in detail, highlighting the critical impact of layer deposition direction. These findings provide valuable information for optimizing orientation selection in specific additive manufacturing contexts, emphasizing the need to address anisotropy in 3D printed materials engineering.