Popescu Diana, Baciu Florin, Amza Catalin Gheorghe, Cotrut Cosmin Mihai, Marinescu Rodica
Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania.
Faculty of Materials Science and Engineering, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 060042 Bucharest, Romania.
Polymers (Basel). 2021 Dec 3;13(23):4249. doi: 10.3390/polym13234249.
Producing parts by 3D printing based on the material extrusion process determines the formation of air gaps within layers even at full infill density, while external pores can appear between adjacent layers making prints permeable. For the 3D-printed medical devices, this open porosity leads to the infiltration of disinfectant solutions and body fluids, which might pose safety issues. In this context, this research purpose is threefold. It investigates which 3D printing parameter settings are able to block or reduce permeation, and it experimentally analyzes if the disinfectants and the medical decontamination procedure degrade the mechanical properties of 3D-printed parts. Then, it studies acetone surface treatment as a solution to avoid disinfectants infiltration. The absorption tests results indicate the necessity of applying post-processing operations for the reusable 3D-printed medical devices as no manufacturing settings can ensure enough protection against fluid intake. However, some parameter settings were proven to enhance the sealing, in this sense the layer thickness being the most important factor. The experimental outcomes also show a decrease in the mechanical performance of 3D-printed ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) instruments treated by acetone cold vapors and then medical decontaminated (disinfected, cleaned, and sterilized by hydrogen peroxide gas plasma sterilization) in comparison to the control prints. These results should be acknowledged when designing and 3D printing medical instruments.
基于材料挤出工艺通过3D打印生产零件，即使在全填充密度下也会在层内形成气隙，而相邻层之间可能会出现外部孔隙，使打印件具有渗透性。对于3D打印的医疗设备，这种开放的孔隙率会导致消毒剂溶液和体液的渗入，这可能会带来安全问题。在此背景下，本研究目的有三个方面。它研究哪些3D打印参数设置能够阻止或减少渗透，并通过实验分析消毒剂和医疗去污程序是否会降低3D打印零件的机械性能。然后，研究丙酮表面处理作为避免消毒剂渗入的解决方案。吸收测试结果表明，对于可重复使用的3D打印医疗设备，有必要进行后处理操作，因为没有制造设置能够确保足够的防护以防止液体进入。然而，一些参数设置被证明可以增强密封性，从这个意义上说，层厚是最重要的因素。实验结果还表明，与对照打印件相比，经丙酮冷蒸汽处理然后进行医疗去污（通过过氧化氢气体等离子体灭菌进行消毒、清洁和灭菌）的3D打印ABS（丙烯腈丁二烯苯乙烯）器械的机械性能有所下降。在设计和3D打印医疗器械时应认识到这些结果。
