Effects Of Elevated Temperatures On Algae Powder For 3d Printing Filaments Production

Algae are increasingly used as a resource for diverse industries, including additive manufacturing (i.e. 3D printing) due to their sustainability and high growth rate. Based on their size, algae can be classified into two major groups: macroalgae and microalgae, all rich in pigments. To enhance eco-friendliness of basic printing filaments material, algae powder can be used as a sustainable bio-filler. In filament production (extrusion process) and 3D printing, elevated temperature enables polymer materials to melt and flow, allowing for material shaping and interlayer adhesion. As different polymers exhibit distinct behaviors at elevated temperatures, it is crucial to be aware of material stability at different temperatures in filament production process. For this purpose, the colorimetric and mass stability of four algae powder (Spirulina, Blue Spirulina, Chlorella and Kelp) was studied at temperatures ranging from 20 to 250°C. It was noticed that for all analyzed algae powders the critical temperatures for color degradation and mass loss were in the range from 160°C to 180°C.