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An ABS/PLA biomass alloy with high physical properties, whose density, flexural modulus, tensile strength, and melt index (MI) are 1360 Kg/m3, 2.9 GPa, 55.4 MPa, and 4.1 g/10 min (230 °C/2.16 Kg), respectively, has been prepared by the appropriate prescription of ABS, PLA, antioxidant (i.e. AO 1010), compatibilizer (i.e. SMA), and filler (i.e. BaSO4). To investigate the feasibility for the housing of audio device, we have also manufactured an assembled loudspeaker with the ABS/PLA biomass alloy by injection molding technique and then actuated it with resembling frequency response to the wooden loudspeaker. Experimental results manifest that lab-made ABS/PLA biomass alloy with qualified density, excellent mechanical characteristics, and good processibility is a highly potential biomass composite for the housing of acoustic apparatus.

With debranching and plasticization of starches, we have successfully prepared thermoplastic starches (TPS) with high processibility by a twin-screw extruder. Afterwards, the TPS have blended with appropriate amounts of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymers (ABS), compatibilizers, impact modifiers, and pigments to compound in a twin-screw extruder, manufacturing TPS/ABS biomass alloys. Finally, we have prepared white and black filaments, whose diameters of 1.75 mm, for additive manufacturing (AM) with TPS/ABS biomass alloys by a single-screw extruder as well as proper mold and also executed their measurement of physical properties. In addition, their feasible evaluation for 3D printing applications has also been made. Experimental results reveal that physical properties of lab-made white and black filaments (i.e. mechanical properties, thermal resistance, flowability, and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)) are superior to those of commercial ABS filaments and the shaping samples for 3D printing have also been successfully fabricated, preliminarily demonstrating that they are potential biomass polymeric materials with excellent physical performances and high processibility for 3D printing utilizations.

In this paper, we have synthesized poly(4-vinylphenol) (PVPh) and polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes-poly(4-vinylphenol) (POSS-PVPh) with low surface energies and investigated their surface properties. Experimental results reveal that the surface properties of PVPh and POSS-PVPh can be manipulated with the length of PVPh segment and POSS contents, respectively, resulting in the variation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding interactions. In addition, the surface energies of PVPh after thermal treatment of 180 °C for 24 h can be less than 20 mJ m −2 and those of POSS-PVPh without thermal treatment can be less than 25 mJ m −2 while those of poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) are 22 mJ m −2 .