Abstract:
Three dimensional printing (3DP) is one rapid prototyping technique, which
creates parts directly from graphical data in computers. Since the 3DP process cannot
fabricate biomaterials directly, the 3DP model is normally printed and employed as a
pattern of the desired implants to create moulds for further casting by biomaterials.
This research was carried out to formulate polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) based
mixture suitable to be directly fabricated in the 3DP machine and to determine the
influence of mixture composition and post-processing technique on the physical and
mechanical properties of the structures. This involved initially making a green
structure by printing a binder onto the different formulations of mixture of PMMA
and water soluble adhesive powder. The results show that PMMA structures were
directly fabricated by 3DP. Variation of the percentage of mixture composition
affects the formability and structural quality of as-fabricated samples including
dimension accuracy, porosity, bulk density and flexural and compressive properties.
Infiltration by heat-cured acrylic resin enhances modulus, strength of structures to be
close to conventional indirect fabricated PMMA resin. It was observed that the
optimum formulation was determined to be 80% PMMA, 10% maltodextrin and 10%
PVA. The properties of the directly fabricated PMMA parts from this investigation
are sufficient as an alternative to PMMA parts made by the conventional indirect
fabrication method. These structures can be developed as cranio-maxillofacial
implants, dental implants and a variety of other biomedical applications