Analysis of the Addition of Nanographite on the Characteristics of Polylactic Acid Filaments Produced by Extrusion Process

¹ Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang 5, Malang 65145, Indonesia.
² Center of Excellence for Cellulose Composite (CECCom), Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Universitas Negeri Malang, Jl. Semarang 5, Malang 65145, Indonesia.

^* Corresponding author : heru.suryanto.ft@um.ac.id

Abstract

PLA-based filaments are often used as a basis for 3D printing, and efforts to improve the properties of PLA filaments are made into nanocomposite filaments. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of adding nanographite on the surface morphology, the geometry of the filament roundness, and the functional groups present in the PLA/nanographite nanocomposite. The method used experimental research with variations in the addition of nanographite to PLA of 0.5wt%, 1wt%, and 1.5wt%. Nanographite was added into PLA by dissolving using chloroform, while filaments were produced using a single screw extruder. The roundness geometry was observed with an optical camera. The functional groups were analyzed with FTIR, and the morphology of the filament surface was observed with SEM. The results show that the addition of nanographite to PLA results in changes in functional groups, which indicate changes in chemical bonds with changes in peaks in the wavenumber range of 1000 – 2000 cm^-1. The addition of nanographite makes the filament's morphology rougher due to agglomeration, which is spread unevenly. Analysis of the roundness of the nanocomposite filament diameters showed a difference in the average filament. The best filament diameter was a 0.5% nanographite sample with a roundness value of 99.02%.