The Potential Use of PLA and Soft PLA in 3D Printing for Sustainable Wearables
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the possibility of using 3D printed layered structure textiles with Polylactide (PLA) and soft PLA for developing sustainable wearables. Using an entry-level fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printer, this study applied the research through design methodology to prototype 3D layered structure textiles with the biodegradable material (PLA and soft PLA) and different layer heights. Four prototypes of 3D layered structure textiles with two different materials and two layer heights were created for this experiment. The findings imply that both PLA and soft PLA have great potential for manufacturing 3D printed wearables while having a less negative impact on the environment; soft PLA with higher elongation for wearable apparel and PLA with low elongation for fashion accessories. The results also indicated the positive influence of the layer height of 3D printed materials on the appearance of 3D printed layered structure textiles.
Keywords: 3D printing, sustainable wearables, layered structure textiles
How to Cite:
Li, Y. & Lee, Y., (2022) “The Potential Use of PLA and Soft PLA in 3D Printing for Sustainable Wearables”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 78(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.13455
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