Work

Parameter Optimisation in 3D Extrusion Printing of Polyhydroxybutyrate Using Design of Experiment Methodology

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: This study systematically optimised extrusion-printing parameters for polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) using a Design of Experiment (DoE) approach to improve printability and construct fidelity. A five-factor DoE was conducted to evaluate the individual and interactive effects of printhead temperature, printing pressure, printing speed, bed temperature, and cartridge heating time on the dimensional accuracy of printed constructs. The resulting regression model enabled the identification of statistically significant main and interaction effects among processing variables. An optimised parameter set (printhead temperature 145 °C, pressure 150 kPa, speed 15 mm s−1, bed temperature 25 °C, and cartridge heating time 120 s) enabled the fabrication of PHB scaffolds with substantially improved shape fidelity, which was experimentally validated using verification prints. These results demonstrate that a DoE-based optimisation strategy provides a robust and efficient route for rationally tuning PHB extrusion-printing conditions, thereby enhancing process reliability for scaffold fabrication in regenerative medicine applications.

Source: Journal of Functional Biomaterials

DOI: 10.3390/jfb17020090

Authors: Mingzu Du, Giuseppe Tronci, Xuebin B. Yang, David J. Wood

Institution: University of Leeds

Language: English

Topic: Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies

Subfield: Automotive Engineering

Field: Engineering

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258

Funders: University of Leeds, China Scholarship Council