Experimental investigations for suitability of 3D Printed PLA and SS316L as a substitute for bone & bone interface in biomedical application

Abstract

This article focuses on using common and non-professional 3D printing hardware and software to create and test PLA polymer and Stainless Steel 316L cylindrical shell constructions. The former is manufactured using FDM technology, employing an equilateral grid pattern with 80% infill for solid which closely mimic bone and bone interface. CATIA V5 is used to generate parametric and automated 3D model for these constructions. Compressive structural strength and stiffness are two important factors in biomedical use. Porosity is consider 80% while the sample Modelling, Manufacturing and Testing the structure has been carried at lab UTM. The intrinsic limits of 3D printing, such as the anisotropic temperament of FDM, in-homogeneities, flaws, along with the impact of configurations on local buckling behaviour, are inferred from the experimental data. The experimental outcome demonstrates that SS 316L is strongest in compression (2249.42MPa) as compared to Solid PLA specimen with 80 infill (29.77MPa). Hollow polymer PLA specimen showed medium compressive strength (34.29 MPa experimentally. Static structural FEA simulation results were found to be within 10% range of the experimental results, and thus validation was achieved. The experimental tests showed that load carrying capacities of SS 316L, solid PLA with 80% infill and hollow PLA are 176580 N, 2066N and 1508N respectively. SEM is used to study morphology and possible prediction of failure of sample. It is concluded that hollow PLA material is the choice and substitute for bone and bone interface in biomedical applications considering its favourable properties determine experimentally in this work.