Cocoa Shell Waste Biofilaments for 3D Printing Applications

• Published in: Macromolecular materials and engineering Vol. 302; no. 11
• Main Authors: Tran, Thi Nga, Bayer, Ilker S., Heredia‐Guerrero, José Alejandro, Frugone, Michela, Lagomarsino, Marco, Maggio, Fabio, Athanassiou, Athanassia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Weinheim John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.11.2017
• Subjects: 3-D printers; 3D printing; Biodegradability; biodegradable composite; biofilament; Biomedical materials; Chocolate; Cocoa; cocoa shell waste; Electron microscopy; Extrusion; Filaments; Fused deposition modeling; Modulus of elasticity; poly(ε‐caprolactone); Polymers; Scanning electron microscopy; Thermodynamic properties; Three dimensional models; Three dimensional printing
• ISSN: 1438-7492; 1439-2054
• DOI: 10.1002/mame.201700219

In this study, biofilaments based on cocoa shell waste, a by‐product of the chocolate industry, and biodegradable poly(ε‐caprolactone), PCL, have been prepared using a single‐screw extruder. Micronized cocoa shell waste is compounded in the polymer up to 50% by weight without significant alteration of its crystalline structure. Resultant elastic (Young's) modulus of biofilaments remains close to that of pure PCL. Scanning electron microscopy results indicate that micronized cocoa shell waste is homogeneously dispersed in the polymer during the extrusion process. Detailed thermal characterization measurements on the extruded filaments allow tuning of the fused deposition modeling 3D printing parameters. 3D printed items display a well‐defined structure with good adhesion between deposition layers and fine resolution. Hence, with this simple and solvent‐free fabrication technique, uniformly structured cocoa shell waste biofilaments can be produced in a very reproducible manner and can be used in 3D printing of diverse objects with potential household and biomedical applications. Direct valorization of cocoa shell waste, a by‐product of the chocolate industry, for the fabrication of low‐cost biofilaments for 3D printing application at lower 3D printing temperatures compared to standard filaments and highly reproducible process is reported.