Experimental study of 3D-printable biocomposite of [HA/PMMA/Sericin] materials

In the previous study, a biocomposite material of [HA/Bioplastic/Sericin] was developed as a printable material. The highest strength was only 3.89 MPa which was achieved by the composite with 60/40 ratio of HA/Bioplastic and additional sericin of 0.3%w/w of HA. The present of sericin within the biocomposite could improve cell attachment. However, since cassava starch based bioplastic as a matrix was degraded in PBF, the dimensional accuracy could not be maintained. In the present study, the matrix of bioplastic was replaced by PMMA with various P/L ratios of 2/1.8, 2/1.185 and 2/1.9. A series test was carried out to investigate the printable characteristic in 3D printer with an optimum printing parameter such as curing time window, flow rate through a nozzle, tensile strength of the printed sample, microstructure and x-ray diffraction. Response Surface Method (RSM) was employed to optimize the printing process parameter of the 3D-Bioprinter, predict the tensile strength of the sample