Layer-by-layer Surface Modification of Polymer Filament for Catalytic 3D Printed Parts

Abstract

Catalyst was constructed in form of microreactor by fused deposition modeling (FDM) or 3D printing method that allow micro scale customization in order to achieve high detail construction. Poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and Poly (acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene) (ABS) filaments were used as a built-up material. The surface modification was introduced to improve filaments surface adhesion by using alkaline treatment and Polyethyleneimine with variation of time and concentration and then deposited with polyelectrolyte multilayers by layer-bylayer technique before catalyst loading. Catalyst were synthesized by reduction reaction of Silver nitrate (AgNO₃) and sodium borohydride (NaBH4) with using poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid-co-maleic acid) as a capping agent to produce silver nanoparticles that is supercatalytic. Catalyst loaded filaments were 3D printed out to characterize various properties by Field scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Peeling test, Universal testing machine (UTM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD). Alkaline and Polyethylenimine can effectively increase built up materials surface adhesion resulting in increasing of silver nanoparticles attachment significantly.