Between 27th and 29th April, the CNR team has participated in the European Scientific Association for Material Forming (ESAFORM) conference.
Mohamed presented about of the first experimental investigations into the integration of untreated natural fibers (e.i., coconut fibers) into photopolymer resins for stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing. The results demonstrate the feasibility of producing fiber-reinforced composites via photopolymerization using an abundant, low-cost, and renewable bio-based filler. While fiber addition currently increases brittleness and reduces strength due to poor bonding and clumping, particularly at higher concentrations, a 10% fiber content offers the most balanced mechanical performance. These findings highlight the potential for eco-friendly prototypes but emphasize that future success requires improved fiber treatments and dispersion techniques to ensure better material integrity.
Later on they plan to publish their findings in a scientific journal, but for now you can read more on the abstract here: https://www.scientific.net/KEM.1047.251
Stay tuned for more project updates!
