Park Jong-in (MSc 23), Lee Joon-hyuk (21), and Kang Min-ji from the Department of Forestry and Biotechnology and the Green Composites and Biomaterials Laboratory at Kookmin University presented their research at the 2024 Korean Society of Wood Science and Engineering Fall Conference in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, on October 17-18, Yoonseo Kim (22) from the Department of Forest Biotechnology and Green Composites and Bio-New Materials, under the guidance of their advisor, Prof. Kim, Birm-June, presented a paper titled “Study on the Mechanical and Morphological Properties of MCC-reinforced PLA/PHA/PBAT Ternary Blend Biocomposites Fabricated by FDM 3D Printing” and won the Outstanding Paper Award of the Korean Society of Wood Engineering.

PLA (poly lactic acid) is derived from corn starch, PHA (polyhydroxyalkanoate) is a representative biodegradable bioplastic made from microbial-derived materials, and PBAT (polybuthylene co-adipate co-terephthalate) is a petroleum-based plastic but biodegradable. In this study, these three bioplastics were combined with microcrystalline cellulose (MCC), a renewable material, and chain extenders to produce filaments, which were then applied to FDM 3D printing. In this experiment, PLA (60 wt.%) was compounded with different contents of PHA and PBAT (0 ~ 40 wt.%), and filaments were manufactured and successfully 3D printed, and to evaluate the material properties, specimens were printed on a 3D printer and analyzed for mechanical and morphological properties. In the future, Jongin Park will conduct research on the development of high value-added biomaterials by applying renewable forestry-derived materials and various bioplastics.

The Green Composites and Biomaterials Laboratory (https://cms.kookmin.ac.kr/green/index.do) of the Department of Forestry and Biotechnology at Kookmin University, which includes Jongin Park, Joonhyuk Lee, Minji Kang, and Yoonseo Kim, is conducting research on the application of woody and non-woody natural fibers and wood compositions to eco-friendly composites and high-value biomaterials for construction and automobiles through fusion with bioplastics and functional nanomaterials by applying various physical, mechanical, and chemical technologies.