Multiscale characterization of additively manufactured PMMA: the influence of sterilization Articles uri icon

publication date

  • May 2024

start page

  • 798

end page

  • 810

issue

  • 4

volume

  • 30

International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)

  • 1355-2546

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1758-7670

abstract

  • Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) is a remarkable biocompatible material for bone cement and regeneration. It is also considered 3D-printable but requires in-depth process-structure-properties studies. This research elucidates the mechanistic effects of processing parameters and sterilization on PMMA-based implants. The approach comprised manufacturing samples with different raster angle orientations to capitalize on the influence of the filament alignment with the loading direction. One sample set was sterilized using an autoclave, while another was kept as a reference. The samples underwent a comprehensive characterization regimen of mechanical tension, compression, and flexural testing. Thermal and microscale mechanical properties were also analyzed to explore the extent of the appreciated modifications as a function of processing conditions.
    Thermal and microscale properties remained almost unaltered, while the mesoscale mechanical behavior varied from the as-printed to the after-autoclaving specimens. While the mechanical behavior reported a pronounced dependence on the printing orientation, sterilization had minimal effects on the properties of 3D-printed PMMA structures. Nonetheless, notable changes in appearance were attributed, and heat reversed as a response to thermally driven conformational rearrangements of the molecules. This research further deepens the viability of 3D-printed PMMA for biomedical applications, contributing to the overall comprehension of the polymer and the thermal processes associated with its implementation in biomedical applications, including personalized implants.

subjects

  • Materials science and engineering
  • Mechanical Engineering

keywords

  • additive manufacturing; sterilization; thermal effects; pmma; 3d printing