3D Printing Autoclavable PPE on Low-Cost Consumer 3D Printers

TL;DR

This paper introduces a method to 3D print autoclavable PPE using low-cost consumer 3D printers by employing a temperature resistant nylon copolymer, enabling sterilization without deformation or property loss.

Contribution

It presents a novel approach for manufacturing autoclavable PPE with common low-cost 3D printers using a new high-temperature nylon material.

Findings

Parts can be autoclaved without deformation.

Autoclaving does not significantly degrade material properties.

Method enables scalable production of sterilizable PPE.

Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, medical facilities began using 3D printed PPE sourced from their own print labs, makerspaces, universities, and individuals with 3D printers to fill the gaps in supply as traditional manufacturing was not widely enough distributed nor quick enough to scale to widespread spikes in demand. However, to date this PPE has been limited to low-temperature, easy to print thermoplastics which are not compatible with autoclave sterilization and must be sterilized by hand washing methods. Herein, we present a method for 3D printing a temperature resistant nylon copolymer on a common low-cost 3D printer. We show that the resulting parts can be autoclaved without deformation, and conduct uniaxial tensile testing showing that autoclaving the material does not result in substantial degradation of material properties. As a result, we demonstrate the capability to manufacture autoclavable PPE on low-cost consumer 3D printers with only minor modification.