Fabrication of PLA Based/Lithium Disilicate Glass Filaments for Dental Glass-ceramic Preparation by Fused Deposition of Ceramics

PLA-based/LD glass filaments were produced by an extruder machine. The morphology and tensile testing on PLA based/LD glass filaments showed that glass was uniformly dispersed within the PLA-based matrix and confirmed the increase in mechanical properties with the addition of PLA-based increases. A custom-designed denture was 3D-printed by using a fused deposition modeling 3D printer and followed by debinding and sintering. XRD patterns showed the Li2SiO5 phase in the denture. The mechanical properties showed values close to those of conventionally produced glass-ceramics. Optimization of the 3D-printing process parameters is still needed to improve the microstructure of the printed objects.