The Thermal and Mechanical Behaviour of Wood-PLA Composites Processed by Additive Manufacturing for Building Insulation

This research project investigates the thermal and mechanical characterization of wood-plastic composites (WPCs) fabricated via fused filament fabrication (FFF) for building insulation applications. Utilizing a polylactic acid (PLA) matrix blended with 30% wood particles, the study systematically evaluates the influence of critical additive manufacturing process parameters, specifically printing temperature and infill density, on the resulting material properties. Mechanical evaluations focus on tensile strength, ultimate stress, and Young's modulus, revealing that while the printing process induces a minor reduction in tensile performance, the extrusion temperature exerts a negligible impact on structural stiffness. Conversely, thermal characterization demonstrates that the thermal conductivity and insulation performance of the printed structures are highly sensitive to

the internal infill architecture. Although the wood-PLA composite exhibits promising, highly customizable thermal properties governed by the infill rate, its overall insulation performance remains 38% to 57% lower than conventional synthetic foams and glass wool. This project provides a structured methodology for evaluating sustainable bio-composites in structural-thermal applications, offering guidance on optimizing printing parameters to balance mechanical integrity and thermal resistance in energy-efficient building components.

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