Novel Electrical Insulation Materials – Mechanical Performance of 3D Printed Polylactic Acid

The aim of this work was to evaluate the mechanical and thermomechanical properties of structures prepared by 3D printing from biodegradable thermoplastic polyester PLA (Polylactic Acid). PLA structures and their manufacture by 3D printing can be a cost-saving and ecological alternative to the current production of insulation systems, e.g. condenser bushings or substrates for printed circuit boards. For further practical application, the knowledge of the change of mechanical and thermal properties in dependence on process parameters is necessary. In this research, PLA test samples were first prepared at different printing speeds and nozzle temperatures. Then, they were characterized by thermomechanical analysis (TMA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile tests. The data showed that the decrease of printing temperature remarkably increased the dimension change evaluated from TMA measurement of 3D printed structures. On the other hand, no significant differences were found between samples printed with different printing speeds. Our results should lead to a better understanding of how to set up the 3D printing process properly.