Effect of 3-D Printing on Mechanical Properties of Poly(vinyl alcohol) based Algal Biopolymer Composites

A significant challenge of the 21st century is to develop sustainable and environmentally friendly materials that also exhibit high strength. One key strategy is to utilize naturally derived resources to manufacture Biocomposites. These consist of a bio-derived reinforcement for strength within a biodegradable matrix, drastically mitigating the environmental impact in their manufacture and disposal. In this work, a novel poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite reinforced with Chlorella microalgae ( Chlorella Salina ) is developed to fabricate films using the Direct Ink Writing 3D printing technique. Mechanical properties and structural characteristics of these 3D printed composites are benchmarked against those prepared by traditional solvent casting. The 3D printed samples demonstrate superior mechanical performance, primarily attributed to more uniform particle dispersion and directionally oriented microalgae reinforcements within the polymer matrix. Incorporating microalgae into printable PVA-based inks opens future possibilities for developing sustainable packaging materials and complex 3D structures.