Fabrication and Characterization of Potato Starch Bioplastics for 3d Printing

Bioplastics are becoming increasingly important due to their positive impact on the environment. This trend has spurred the development of new production techniques, such as 3D printing, emphasizing the need for efficient and sustainable applications of these materials. This article focuses on the preparation of bioplastic filaments for 3D printers using potato starch as the main raw material through the extrusion process. The filaments were prepared with different proportions of starch, glycerin, and distilled water and subjected to thermal analysis using DSC. 3D printing was performed using an Ender 3 V2 printer, and specimens were prepared for tensile testing according to ASTM D638-14 and flexure testing according to ISO 178:2019 for mechanical characterization. It was observed that filaments with higher glycerin content exhibited brittleness and slippage problems in the printer feed motor, making printing impossible. Suitable extrusion and 3D printer bed temperatures were defined. Although the mechanical properties obtained were modest, they are considered adequate for this type of material, suggesting the feasibility of using bioplastics in 3D printing.