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Coconut Fibre Reinforced Photopolymer Composites via Stereolithography: Feasibility and Mechanical Performance

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Abstract:

The growing demand for sustainable materials has driven interest in bio-based composites for additive manufacturing (AM). This study explores the feasibility of incorporating untreated coconut fibres into commercial photopolymer resins for stereolithography (SLA). Coconut fibres were extracted, processed, and integrated at varying concentrations into resin formulations, followed by fabrication of ASTM D638 Type IV specimens using a desktop SLA printer and UV post-curing. Mechanical characterization included tensile testing to assess Young’s modulus, tensile strength, and elongation at break, complemented by microscopy of fracture surfaces to evaluate fibre dispersion and failure mechanisms. Results indicate good compatibility between coconut fibres and photopolymer resin, with mechanical performance strongly influenced by fibre content. These findings highlight the potential of coconut fibre-reinforced photopolymer composites as sustainable alternatives for AM applications.

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Info:

Periodical:

Key Engineering Materials (Volume 1047)

Pages:

251-258

Online since:

April 2026

Authors:

Valeria Palomba, Antonio Fotia, Giulia Palomba*, Pasqualino Corigliano, Mohamed Chairi, Guido Di Bella

Keywords:

Additive Manufacturing, Biocomposite, Natural Fiber Reinforcement

Funder:

The publication of this article was funded by the National Research Council (ITA) 10.13039/501100004462

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Creative Commons CC BY 4.0

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* - Corresponding Author

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