Simple Preparation of Metal-Impregnated FDM 3D-Printed Structures

Three-dimensional (3D) printing has gained widespread acceptance within the engineering field due to its cost-efficiency and versatility in design. Nevertheless, certain applications need surface modification of 3D-printed materials to improve its compatibility. This study is primarily focused on the impregnation of Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D-printed Polylactic Acid (PLA) samples with silver nanoparticles and an iron salt. The impregnation method involves cleaning, activating, and etching before impregnating the material to create a porous surface on the PLA. Silver nanoparticles, both spherical and non-uniform in shape, were successfully synthesized and securely affixed to the surfaces of the PLA samples using a microfluidic reactor. Simultaneously, iron salt was robustly anchored to the 3D-printed stirrer caps, serving as a catalyst for dye degradation processes. To confirm particle synthesis and surface adhesion, several analysis methods were run such as UV/Vis spectrometry, transmission and scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Reaction and adhesion tests were employed to assess the strength of impregnation and the chemical performance of the new material. These include a flow test on the silver nanoparticle milli-fluidic reactor and a kinetic analysis for dye degradation with the iron salt stirrer caps. This research contributes to the expanding spectrum of 3D printing applications in engineering, showcasing its adaptability in accommodating diverse material modifications for a wide range of functional applications.