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Volume 10
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10.3390/jcs10090494
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Article

Architecture-Dependent Reinforcement of FFF-Printed PLA Nanocomposites by Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

by
Dorivane Cohen Farias
1,2,
Diogo Monteiro Porfírio
2,
Miriane Alexandrino Pinheiro
1,
Mário Edson Santos de Sousa
3,
Alessandro José Gomes dos Santos
4,
Douglas Santos Silva
5,*,
Raí Felipe Pereira Junio
5,
Sergio Neves Monteiro
5 and
Marcos Allan Leite dos Reis
1
1
Graduate Program in Materials Science and Engineering (PPGCEM), Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Ananindeua Campus, Ananindeua 67130-660, PA, Brazil
2
Materials Engineering Program, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Pará (IFPA), Belém Campus, Belém 66093-020, PA, Brazil
3
LPMaT, Department of Materials Engineering, Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM), Manaus 69080-900, AM, Brazil
4
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering (FEMEC), Institute of Geosciences and Engineering (IGE), Federal University of South and Southeast Pará (UNIFESSPA), Marabá 68505-080, PA, Brazil
5
Department of Materials Science, Military Institute of Engineering (IME), Praça General Tibúrcio 80, Rio de Janeiro 22290-270, RJ, Brazil
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10(9), 494; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10090494
Submission received: 23 August 2026 / Revised: 11 September 2026 / Accepted: 15 September 2026 / Published: 17 September 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Manufacturing and Machining of Composites)
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Abstract

This study investigates the combined influence of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) concentration and structural architecture on the compressive behavior of fused filament fabrication (FFF)-printed PLA components. Neat PLA and PLA reinforced with 1.0 and 2.0 wt% carboxyl-functionalized MWCNTs were characterized by Raman spectroscopy, DSC, TGA, compression testing, statistical analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. Thermal characterization showed that MWCNT incorporation caused only minor changes in PLA thermal degradation while altering its crystallization behavior. For nearly solid specimens (90% infill), compressive strength increased from 53.4 MPa for neat PLA to 73.6 MPa at 2.0 wt% MWCNTs, although differences among MWCNT concentrations were not statistically significant. Honeycomb structures exhibited the highest mechanical performance at 1.0 wt% MWCNTs, reaching a compressive strength of 33.3 MPa, approximately 59% higher than that of neat PLA, with significant improvements in both compressive strength and elastic modulus. Two-way ANOVA revealed significant interactions between structural architecture and MWCNT concentration for both compressive strength and elastic modulus, demonstrating an architecture-dependent reinforcement response. SEM provided complementary morphological evidence consistent with the observed mechanical trends. These findings demonstrate that the most effective MWCNT concentration depends on structural architecture, highlighting the importance of simultaneously optimizing material composition and geometry in FFF-manufactured polymer nanocomposites.
Keywords: poly(lactic acid); carbon nanotubes; fused filament fabrication; cellular structures; compressive behavior poly(lactic acid); carbon nanotubes; fused filament fabrication; cellular structures; compressive behavior

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MDPI and ACS Style

Farias, D.C.; Porfírio, D.M.; Pinheiro, M.A.; de Sousa, M.E.S.; dos Santos, A.J.G.; Silva, D.S.; Junio, R.F.P.; Monteiro, S.N.; dos Reis, M.A.L. Architecture-Dependent Reinforcement of FFF-Printed PLA Nanocomposites by Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. J. Compos. Sci. 2026, 10, 494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10090494

AMA Style

Farias DC, Porfírio DM, Pinheiro MA, de Sousa MES, dos Santos AJG, Silva DS, Junio RFP, Monteiro SN, dos Reis MAL. Architecture-Dependent Reinforcement of FFF-Printed PLA Nanocomposites by Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Journal of Composites Science. 2026; 10(9):494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10090494

Chicago/Turabian Style

Farias, Dorivane Cohen, Diogo Monteiro Porfírio, Miriane Alexandrino Pinheiro, Mário Edson Santos de Sousa, Alessandro José Gomes dos Santos, Douglas Santos Silva, Raí Felipe Pereira Junio, Sergio Neves Monteiro, and Marcos Allan Leite dos Reis. 2026. "Architecture-Dependent Reinforcement of FFF-Printed PLA Nanocomposites by Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes" Journal of Composites Science 10, no. 9: 494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10090494

APA Style

Farias, D. C., Porfírio, D. M., Pinheiro, M. A., de Sousa, M. E. S., dos Santos, A. J. G., Silva, D. S., Junio, R. F. P., Monteiro, S. N., & dos Reis, M. A. L. (2026). Architecture-Dependent Reinforcement of FFF-Printed PLA Nanocomposites by Functionalized Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes. Journal of Composites Science, 10(9), 494. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcs10090494

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