Natural Fiber-Reinforced PLA Composites for Fused Deposition Modeling: A Critical Assessment and Experimental Feasibility of Jute Fiber Reinforcement

Resumo

Natural fiber-reinforced polymer composites for fused deposition modeling (FDM) are getting more attention due to growing need for ecofriendly materials in additive manufacturing. This study critically evaluates polymer filaments and natural fiber-reinforced polymer composite filaments, mainly focusing on FDM process parameters to evaluate the collective impact on mechanical, thermal, and microstructural performance. Existing literature on natural fiber reinforcement is systematically analyzed to identify key parameters governing to print feasibility, interlayer bonding, and part quality. The study led to the development of short jute fiber-reinforced PLA composite filaments and experimentally evaluated the performance of the developed materials. The results prove that fiber particle size and fiber volume fraction play a decisive role in interfacial adhesion and overall mechanical performance of FDM printed parts. Optimized processing parameters, low to moderate fiber content (1-5wt.%) and fine fiber particle sizes improve mechanical performance without compromising printability. Conversely, higher fibers content or bigger particle sizes induce agglomeration, weak interlayer bonding, and lead to reduced mechanical performance. This study emphasizes the crucial role of moisture control and filament conditioning in attaining stable extrusion of Jute natural fiber reinforced PLA filaments. This work carries a comprehensive understanding of the relationships between process, structure, and properties as well as practical guidance for developing high performance, natural composite filaments for advanced and sustainable FDM applications.