PMC

Water contact angle profiles of neat PLA, PLA/Ag/PEG (rec-01), and PLA/Ag/PVP (rec-03) 3D printed samples at 300 and 100 µm printed layer thickness, respectively, showing the hydrophobic and anti-adhesive properties of the different 3D printed objects in this work (CA₂: contact angle 2; CA₁: contact angle 1; CA_average: contact angle average value in “°” from CA₁ and CA₂). (a,b): H₂O contact angle of neat 3D printed PLA with 100 and 300 µm printed layer thickness, respectively. (c,d): H₂O contact angles of PLA/Ag/PEG (rec-01) with 100 and 300 µm printed layer thickness, respectively. (e,f): H₂O contact angle of PLA/Ag/PVP (rec-03) with 100 and 300 µm printed layer thickness, respectively.

The digitally designed and fabrication system was printed with colleagues [] and future work will look to further characterize this experimental printing method. For the images, a chemiluminescent liquid was pumped through the flow channels for visualization.

Three dimensional solid model of ear cup in solid work (a) and a prototype of printed ear cup (b)

(a) The printed specimen and (b) the measured position in this work.