Printability study by selective laser sintering of bio-based samples obtained by using PBS as polymeric matrix

• Published in: Polymer testing 2024-02, Vol.131, p.108327, Article 108327
• Main Authors: Colucci, Giovanna, Piano, Marco, Lupone, Federico, Baruffaldi, Desiree, Frascella, Francesca, Bondioli, Federica, Messori, Massimo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 3D printing; Additive manufacturing; Bio-based polymers; Cytocompatibility; Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS); Selective laser sintering
• ISSN: 0142-9418; 1873-2348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymertesting.2024.108327

The emerging request to reduce the environmental impact of plastics encourages scientists to use novel sustainable polymeric materials for many applications fields. The present paper aims to use for the first-time poly (butylene succinate) (PBS), a biodegradable and compostable polymer, for Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) applications. PBS is a flexible semicrystalline aliphatic polyester, which can represent a very good alternative to the traditional thermoplastic polymers obtained by fossil sources. The present work started from a lab-scale production of PBS powders by means of an emulsion solvent evaporation/precipitation method, with the purpose to increase the number of polymeric powders available for SLS. The obtained PBS powders were first characterized by morphological and thermal point of view, and then employed as innovative polymeric material in SLS to realized 3D printed parts with increasing geometrical complexity. To confirm PBS cytocompatibility, cell proliferation and cell viability assays (MTT and Live&Dead) were measured using a lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cell line (H1299). The in vitro cytotoxicity of the 3D printed material was also investigated, showing no harm on cells. •Novel biodegradable powder was obtained by using PBS as polymeric matrix by an emulsion solvent evaporation method.•The PBS powder obtained was characterized by morphological and thermal point of view.•The 3D printability of the spherical biodegradable microspheres was then studied by selective laser sintering.•3D printed objects were successfully realized by SLS, showing increasing complexity and different geometries.•The cytocompatibility of PBS was also studied revealing its no harmful effect on cells.