3D-printed hierarchically-porous objects from the control of phase separation in semicrystalline PLA/PEG blends
(2025)
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- Abstract
- Crystallization-induced phase separation in PLA/PEG blends creates tunable microporosity through PEG extraction. Combined with 3D printing, this approach adds the macroporosity needed to build complex architectures. The balance of PEG content and molar mass dictates crystallization behavior, phase distribution and the resulting porous structure. A phase diagram was established to predict PEG localization and the formation of micropores, which, together with macroporosity from 3D printing, yielded hierarchically porous materials. Imaging revealed a continuous microporous network, while mechanical testing showed that macroporosity strongly reduced performance, whereas microporosity had a milder effect thanks to residual PEG preserving flexibility. This solvent-free strategy enables the on-site fabrication of hierarchical porous systems for patient-specific implants and may significantly shorten treatment timelines in personalized medicine.
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Citations
Papeloer, Q. (2025). 3D-printed hierarchically-porous objects from the control of phase separation in semicrystalline PLA/PEG blends. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/256534