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Micromachines
Volume 17
Issue 8
10.3390/mi17080937
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Article

Interlocking Interfaces for Enhanced Mechanical Properties in Bi-Component 3D Printing of Biodegradable Materials

by
Maria Catana (Oancea)
1,
Catalin Tampu
2,*,
Simona-Nicoleta Mazurchevici
1,
Anastasios Tzotzis
3,
Wojciech Sitek
4,
Virgil Gabriel Teodor
5,
Florin Susac
5,
Monica Silvia Tatarciuc
6,
Panagiotis Kyratsis
3,
Ion Tiseanu
7,
Cosmin Dobrea
7,
Yujiao Ke
8,
Viorel Păunoiu
5 and
Dumitru Nedelcu
1,9,10,*
1
Department of Machine Manufacturing, Gheorghe Asachi Technical University of Iasi, Bd. Mangeron 59A, 700050 Iasi, Romania
2
Faculty of Engineering, Vasile Alecsandri University of Bacau, Calea Mărăşeşti 157, 600115 Bacău, Romania
3
Department of Product and Systems Design Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100 Kila Kozani, Greece
4
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, ul. Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
5
Faculty of Engineering, Dunarea de Jos University of Galati, Street Domnească nr. 111, 800201 Galați, Romania
6
“Grigore T. Popa” Faculty of Dental Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Universității Street 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
7
National Institute of Laser Plasma and Radiation Physics, P.O. Box MG-36, 76900 Bucharest-Magurele, Romania
8
School of Mechanical Engineering, Yanshan University, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
9
Technical Sciences Academy of Romania, Blvd. Dacia 26, 030167 Bucharest, Romania
10
Academy of Romanian Scientists, Ilfov Street 3, Sector 5, 050044 Bucharest, Romania
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Micromachines 2026, 17(8), 937; https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17080937
Submission received: 16 July 2026 / Revised: 29 July 2026 / Accepted: 2 August 2026 / Published: 6 August 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovations in 3D Printing Technologies: From Microfabrication to Functional Applications)
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Abstract

Additive manufacturing has evolved beyond monomaterial fabrication, enabling the integration of dissimilar polymers within a single structure to achieve spatially tailored properties. In Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF), however, the discrete, layer-wise deposition and inherent material incompatibilities make the interfacial region a critical determinant of structural integrity. Rather than acting as a simple boundary, the interface governs stress transfer, damage initiation, and failure propagation, especially in biodegradable polymer systems where thermal and rheological mismatches are pronounced. This study investigates bi-component FFF structures manufactured from PLA and PLA/PHA using mechanically interlocked interface geometries (T-type and dovetail configurations). Mechanical performance was assessed through tensile, flexural, and Charpy impact testing, complemented by fracture analysis, surface topography evaluation, and X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) for internal defect characterization. The results establish correlations between interface design, defect distribution, and overall structural response.
Keywords: multi-material printing; PLA; PLA/PHA; biodegradable polymers; 3D printing interface; mechanical interlocking; mechanical properties; fracture behavior; X-ray computed tomography (XCT); structural integrity; polymer composites; interfacial adhesion; defect analysis multi-material printing; PLA; PLA/PHA; biodegradable polymers; 3D printing interface; mechanical interlocking; mechanical properties; fracture behavior; X-ray computed tomography (XCT); structural integrity; polymer composites; interfacial adhesion; defect analysis

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Catana, M.; Tampu, C.; Mazurchevici, S.-N.; Tzotzis, A.; Sitek, W.; Teodor, V.G.; Susac, F.; Tatarciuc, M.S.; Kyratsis, P.; Tiseanu, I.; et al. Interlocking Interfaces for Enhanced Mechanical Properties in Bi-Component 3D Printing of Biodegradable Materials. Micromachines 2026, 17, 937. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17080937

AMA Style

Catana M, Tampu C, Mazurchevici S-N, Tzotzis A, Sitek W, Teodor VG, Susac F, Tatarciuc MS, Kyratsis P, Tiseanu I, et al. Interlocking Interfaces for Enhanced Mechanical Properties in Bi-Component 3D Printing of Biodegradable Materials. Micromachines. 2026; 17(8):937. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17080937

Chicago/Turabian Style

Catana (Oancea), Maria, Catalin Tampu, Simona-Nicoleta Mazurchevici, Anastasios Tzotzis, Wojciech Sitek, Virgil Gabriel Teodor, Florin Susac, Monica Silvia Tatarciuc, Panagiotis Kyratsis, Ion Tiseanu, and et al. 2026. "Interlocking Interfaces for Enhanced Mechanical Properties in Bi-Component 3D Printing of Biodegradable Materials" Micromachines 17, no. 8: 937. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17080937

APA Style

Catana, M., Tampu, C., Mazurchevici, S.-N., Tzotzis, A., Sitek, W., Teodor, V. G., Susac, F., Tatarciuc, M. S., Kyratsis, P., Tiseanu, I., Dobrea, C., Ke, Y., Păunoiu, V., & Nedelcu, D. (2026). Interlocking Interfaces for Enhanced Mechanical Properties in Bi-Component 3D Printing of Biodegradable Materials. Micromachines, 17(8), 937. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi17080937

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