June 15, 2025 | Journal of the Taiwan Institute of Chemical Engineers |
The study conducted by Kasetsart University, Thailand, and National Chung Hsing University, Taiwan, explored the development of biocomposite filaments using polylactic acid (PLA) blended with activated carbon (AC) derived from durian husk waste. The work was motivated by growing interest in 3D printing technologies and the potential use of agricultural byproducts to create sustainable materials.
Biocomposite filaments were produced through melt extrusion and analyzed using scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy to evaluate their morphology, thermal behavior, and chemical structure. The results showed that AC particles were evenly distributed within the PLA matrix, and the filaments maintained a smooth surface with diameters between 1.74 and 1.79 mm. The addition of AC improved the thermal stability and crystallinity of the filaments by up to 20% compared to pure PLA, while also maintaining low swelling behavior due to PLA’s hydrophobicity.
Mechanical testing indicated that tensile strength increased with higher AC content, and adsorption studies confirmed enhanced removal efficiency of methylene blue dye, reflecting the functional contribution of AC. Overall, this study demonstrated that durian husk-derived AC can be effectively incorporated into PLA filaments to improve structural and functional properties, supporting sustainable applications in 3D printing.
