Effect of nanosilica on shape memory and mechanical characterization of polylactic acid wood composite

Abstract In the present study, nanosilica reinforced polylactic acid wood composite was fabricated using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 4D printing technology. Nanosilica content was varied to study the effect on shape memory property like shape recovery rate and mechanical properties such as hardness, compressive strength and dynamic mechanical properties and simultaneous thermal properties. The finding of result indicated that the mechanical properties such as hardness, compressive strength, and flexural strength were increased by 60%, 60%, and 16.6% with the addition of 2 wt% nanosilica. The thermal stability of composite was also improved with the addition of nanosilica. The storage modulus was initially increased and then decreased with the increase in nanosilica content. However, the maximum shape recovery rate was decreased with the increase in nanosilica content.