3D-printing on textiles – an investigation on adhesion properties of the produced composite materials

Abstract The actual paper is related to adhesive properties of 3D objects printed on cotton textile fabrics. For practical applications of 3D prints in the textile sector, the adhesion of the printed object on the textile substrate is an important issue. In the current study, two different types of polymers are printed on cotton – polylactide acid (PLA) and polyamide 6.6 (Nylon). Altogether six cotton fabrics differing in structure, weight and thickness are evaluated. Also, the effect of washing and enzymatic desizing is investigated. For printing parameters, best results are gained for elevated process temperatures, intermediate printing speed and low Z-distance between printing head and substrate. Also, a textile treatment by washing and desizing can improve the adhesion of an afterwards applied 3D print. The presented results are quite useful for future developments of 3D printing applications on textile substrates, e.g. to implement new decorative features or protective functions.