3D printing of polypropylene reinforced with hemp fibers: Mechanical, water absorption and morphological properties

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and additively manufacture polypropylene-hemp fiber (PPHF) composites, which were composed of polypropylene (PP) and hemp fibers (HF) in various percentages (5%, 10%, and 20%). The objective was to examine the mechanical properties and water absorption behaviors of extruded PP, conventional filament PP and PPHF composites. The findings of the flexural and tensile tests provided important valuable information. In comparison to the other materials examined, extruded PP had the highest flexural modulus and strength, but filament PP had the lowest mechanical properties. The results showed that the 5% hemp PP composite exhibited the highest tensile strength, and the 20% hemp PP composite showed the highest Young's modulus. These results highlight how crucial hemp fiber content is in modifying the mechanical characteristics of a polymeric material to obtain the material with desirable properties for specific industry requirements.