Abstract
The rapid rise of 3D printing in industry has intensified research into developing advanced and sustainable printing materials, as the properties of the feedstock directly influence the performance of the final product. This thesis investigates the integration of natural cotton yarn into PLA (Polylactic Acid) to enhance mechanical behavior while maintaining cost-effectiveness, using a standard 3D printer without any modifications. Experimental results across three phases demonstrated consistent improvements. In the first phase, cotton–PLA composites exhibited higher ductility (+22.27%) and toughness (+10.51%) than pure PLA, albeit with lower stress values and a slight decrease in Young’s modulus. In the second phase, introducing a concentric pattern further enhanced ductility (+29.3%) and toughness (+33.87%), though stress and modulus values remained below those of pure PLA. The third phase produced the most favorable outcomes, with ductility and toughness increasing by 28.49% and 72.26%, respectively, alongside gains in ultimate tensile strength (+20.95%), yield stress (+13.77%), and Young’s modulus (+6.55%). Additionally, Charpy impact testing revealed substantial improvements in resistance to sudden loading. Mercerized cotton–PLA composites achieved a 37% reduction in breakage angle (β) and a remarkable 471.18% increase in absorbed energy (E), highlighting their potential for safety-critical manufacturing applications.
Library of Congress Subject Headings
Three-dimensional printing--Equipment and supplies--Design and construction; Three-dimensional printing--Materials; Additive manufacturing; Cotton yarn; Polylactic acid
Publication Date
8-2025
Document Type
Thesis
Student Type
Graduate
Degree Name
Mechanical Engineering (MS)
Advisor
Wael A. Samad
Advisor/Committee Member
Salman Pervaiz
Advisor/Committee Member
Muhammad Imran
Recommended Citation
AL Arnaout, Muhammad Aghead, "Retrofitting an FDM Printer for 3D Printing with Cotton Yarn: A Novel Approach and Mechanical Property Evaluation" (2025). Thesis. Rochester Institute of Technology. Accessed from
https://repository.rit.edu/theses/12323
Campus
RIT Dubai
Plan Codes
MECE-MS
Comments
This thesis has been embargoed. The full-text will be available on or around 6/29/2026.