Natural Fiber-Reinforced Polylactic Acid Composites: 3D Printing, Life Cycle Assessment, and Applications.

Mpho Phillip Motloung, Khanyisile Sheer Dhlamini, Pauline Ncube, Ntsoaki Joyce Malebo, Mokgaotsa Jonas Mochane

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Polymers, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

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0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Mpho Phillip MotloungDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa.

Khanyisile Sheer DhlaminiDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa.

Pauline NcubeDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa.

Ntsoaki Joyce MaleboDepartment of Life Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State, Private Bag X20539, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0003-2017-5759

Mokgaotsa Jonas MochaneDepartment of Chemistry, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, University of South Africa, Florida Science Campus, Roodepoort, Johannesburg 1710, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0002-4805-2198

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Natural fiber-reinforced biopolymer composites are an attractive class of materials owing to their renewability, sustainability, and eco-friendliness. Meanwhile, fused deposition modeling (FDM) is transforming the manufacturing industry and gaining popularity for fabricating intricate and customized geometries that are difficult to produce with traditional techniques. Recently, FDM printing of natural fiber-reinforced PLA composites (NFRPCs) has emerged as a promising approach for developing sustainable green composites with potential application across diverse fields. This review comprehensively examines recent advances in the development of FDM-printed NFRPCs, with particular emphasis on mechanical and tribological properties. In addition, the review examines life cycle assessment (LCA) studies to evaluate the environmental sustainability of FDM-printed NFRPCs and identifies important gaps that require further investigation. Challenges associated with the processing of NFRPCs, including printability, interfacial adhesion, and optimal printing parameters, are also highlighted. Finally, future research directions are proposed to facilitate the development of high-performance, printable, and environmentally sustainable NFRPCs.

Indexed as

fused deposition modelingnatural fiberpolylactic acidpolymer composites

Identifiers

PMID42737165

DOI10.3390/polym18172156

PMCPMC13568456

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