Research Article

PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties

Volume: 6 Number: 2 July 30, 2026

PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties

Abstract

The development of polymer composites with antibacterial functionality and improved mechanical performance has attracted increasing attention for applications requiring both structural integrity and microbial resistance. In this study, poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composites containing silver nitrate (AgNO₃; 1, 3, and 5 wt%) were fabricated by stereolithography (SLA) and characterized. SEM and EDX analyses confirmed the presence of silver within the PLA matrix, with relatively uniform distribution at lower contents and localized heterogeneities at higher loadings. FTIR results indicated that the chemical structure of PLA was largely preserved after AgNO₃ incorporation, with minor spectral shifts suggesting possible interactions with silver-containing species. TGA revealed a slight increase in the onset degradation temperature, from 315 °C for neat PLA to 321 °C for the composite containing 5 wt% AgNO₃. Mechanical testing showed improvements in both tensile and flexural properties with increasing AgNO₃ content, with tensile strength rising from 39.6 MPa to 55 MPa and flexural strength from 45.4 MPa to 76.7 MPa. Antibacterial tests demonstrated clear inhibition against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, with stronger activity observed at higher AgNO₃ contents.

Keywords

Ethical Statement

The authors declare to no conflict of interest.

Thanks

The authors would like to express their appreciation to Emrecan Arpacı (Department of Forest Industry, Bursa Technical University) for his help in FTIR analysis, and to Dr. Uğur Parın (Department of Microbiology, Aydın Adnan Menderes University) for his assistance with the antibacterial activity test.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Polymer Science and Technologies, Polymer Technologies, Polymers and Plastics

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

July 30, 2026

Submission Date

January 20, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 18, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 6 Number: 2

APA
Taşkıngül, M. E., Parın, F. N., & Ekinci, C. (2026). PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties. Journal of Innovative Engineering and Natural Science, 6(2), 595-610. https://doi.org/10.61112/jiens.1868301
AMA
1.Taşkıngül ME, Parın FN, Ekinci C. PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties. JIENS. 2026;6(2):595-610. doi:10.61112/jiens.1868301
Chicago
Taşkıngül, Mustafa Eren, Fatma Nur Parın, and Can Ekinci. 2026. “PLA/AgNO₃/Composites/Fabricated/by/Stereolithography/With/Improved/Mechanical/and/Antibacterial/Properties”. Journal of Innovative Engineering and Natural Science 6 (2): 595-610. https://doi.org/10.61112/jiens.1868301.
EndNote
Taşkıngül ME, Parın FN, Ekinci C (July 1, 2026) PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties. Journal of Innovative Engineering and Natural Science 6 2 595–610.
IEEE
[1]M. E. Taşkıngül, F. N. Parın, and C. Ekinci, “PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties”, JIENS, vol. 6, no. 2, pp. 595–610, July 2026, doi: 10.61112/jiens.1868301.
ISNAD
Taşkıngül, Mustafa Eren - Parın, Fatma Nur - Ekinci, Can. “PLA/AgNO₃/Composites/Fabricated/by/Stereolithography/With/Improved/Mechanical/and/Antibacterial/Properties”. Journal of Innovative Engineering and Natural Science 6/2 (July 1, 2026): 595-610. https://doi.org/10.61112/jiens.1868301.
JAMA
1.Taşkıngül ME, Parın FN, Ekinci C. PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties. JIENS. 2026;6:595–610.
MLA
Taşkıngül, Mustafa Eren, et al. “PLA/AgNO₃/Composites/Fabricated/by/Stereolithography/With/Improved/Mechanical/and/Antibacterial/Properties”. Journal of Innovative Engineering and Natural Science, vol. 6, no. 2, July 2026, pp. 595-10, doi:10.61112/jiens.1868301.
Vancouver
1.Mustafa Eren Taşkıngül, Fatma Nur Parın, Can Ekinci. PLA/AgNO₃ composites fabricated by stereolithography with improved mechanical and antibacterial properties. JIENS. 2026 Jul. 1;6(2):595-610. doi:10.61112/jiens.1868301


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