Development and Characterization of High-Density Polyethylene/Polylactic Acid/Titanium Dioxide Composites for Pellet-Based 3D Printing.

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Title: Development and Characterization of High-Density Polyethylene/Polylactic Acid/Titanium Dioxide Composites for Pellet-Based 3D Printing.
Authors: Peter, Ildiko1 (AUTHOR), Craciun, Dan-Cristian2 (AUTHOR) craciun.dan-cristian.23@stud.umfst.ro, Pop, Mihai Alin3 (AUTHOR)
Source: Polymers (20734360). Jun2026, Vol. 18 Issue 12, p1475. 26p.
Subjects: High density polyethylene, Polylactic acid, Titanium dioxide, Rapid prototyping, Three-dimensional printing, Mechanical behavior of materials, Composite materials, Thermal analysis
Abstract: In the present study, the development of a high-density polyethylene/polylactic acid/titanium dioxide (HDPE–PLA–TiO2) composite proposed for pellet-based additive manufacturing and the evaluation of its thermal and mechanical behavior are presented and discussed. The study was designed to address the printability limitations of high-HDPE-content systems, particularly extrusion instability and weak interlayer adhesion. PLA was introduced to improve processing stability, while TiO2 was incorporated as an inorganic filler. The selected formulation allowed the production of filaments, pellets, and 3D-printed specimens. Thermal analysis indicated the absence of significant mass loss below approximately 300 °C under the applied thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) conditions, suggesting that no major mass-loss degradation occurred within the selected processing window. However, this result should be interpreted as macroscopic thermal stability and does not exclude possible molecular-level changes in PLA during processing. Tensile tests indicated strengths of 20–25 MPa for extruded filaments and 7.86–10.36 MPa for printed specimens, with an elastic modulus of approximately 2 GPa. Scanning Electron microscopy equipped with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) observations revealed a heterogeneous fracture morphology with cavities, microcracks, fibrillar structures, and local Ti-rich regions, supporting the influence of morphology and filler distribution on the mechanical response of the printed specimens. The results indicate improved printability, adequate thermal behavior for the selected processing conditions, and moderate but reproducible tensile performance, highlighting the potential of this formulation for pellet-based additive manufacturing applications where processability and rigidity are more relevant than maximum tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Development and Characterization of High-Density Polyethylene/Polylactic Acid/Titanium Dioxide Composites for Pellet-Based 3D Printing.
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  Data: In the present study, the development of a high-density polyethylene/polylactic acid/titanium dioxide (HDPE–PLA–TiO2) composite proposed for pellet-based additive manufacturing and the evaluation of its thermal and mechanical behavior are presented and discussed. The study was designed to address the printability limitations of high-HDPE-content systems, particularly extrusion instability and weak interlayer adhesion. PLA was introduced to improve processing stability, while TiO2 was incorporated as an inorganic filler. The selected formulation allowed the production of filaments, pellets, and 3D-printed specimens. Thermal analysis indicated the absence of significant mass loss below approximately 300 °C under the applied thermogravimetric/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) conditions, suggesting that no major mass-loss degradation occurred within the selected processing window. However, this result should be interpreted as macroscopic thermal stability and does not exclude possible molecular-level changes in PLA during processing. Tensile tests indicated strengths of 20–25 MPa for extruded filaments and 7.86–10.36 MPa for printed specimens, with an elastic modulus of approximately 2 GPa. Scanning Electron microscopy equipped with Energy Dispersive X-Ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) observations revealed a heterogeneous fracture morphology with cavities, microcracks, fibrillar structures, and local Ti-rich regions, supporting the influence of morphology and filler distribution on the mechanical response of the printed specimens. The results indicate improved printability, adequate thermal behavior for the selected processing conditions, and moderate but reproducible tensile performance, highlighting the potential of this formulation for pellet-based additive manufacturing applications where processability and rigidity are more relevant than maximum tensile strength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Polymers (20734360) is the property of MDPI and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.3390/polym18121475
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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        PageCount: 26
        StartPage: 1475
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      – SubjectFull: High density polyethylene
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polylactic acid
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Titanium dioxide
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Rapid prototyping
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Three-dimensional printing
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mechanical behavior of materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Composite materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Thermal analysis
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Development and Characterization of High-Density Polyethylene/Polylactic Acid/Titanium Dioxide Composites for Pellet-Based 3D Printing.
        Type: main
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            NameFull: Peter, Ildiko
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            NameFull: Craciun, Dan-Cristian
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            NameFull: Pop, Mihai Alin
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            – D: 15
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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