Controlling the ductile/fragile behavior of a 3D-printed PLA-BaTiO3 biocomposite by PBS addition

The demand for patient-specific medicine is growing, particularly with the need for innovative materials that can not only support tissue regeneration but also accelerate it. This study aimed to develop a new printable composite material exhibiting ductile behavior, as opposed to brittle failure, to support cell growth even in the event of structural compromise. PBS was selected in this study to be blended with PLA due to its higher biocompatibility for bone tissue regeneration[1]. Both neat PLA and the PLA/PBS blend were then mixed with BaTiO3, printed and tested by mechanical testing. PLA-based composites demonstrated higher stiffness under compression, with up to 6.5 % higher in Young’s Modulus compared to the blended samples. However, the incorporation of PBS resulted in a more ductile material, as evidenced by 3-point bending tests, even at BaTiO3 concentrations of 10 wt%. This ductility should provide safer conditions for cell growth and allow elastic recovery after mechanical loading.