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Custodio, et al.
A B C

Figure 6. (A) Tensile stress-strain graph, (B) elastic moduli, and (C) tensile strength of the 3D printed polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite
composites.

A B C

D E F

G H I

J K L

Figure 7. Fracture surfaces of the tensile-tested 3D printed polylactic acid (PLA)/hydroxyapatite composites. (A-C) PLA/0H; (D-F)
PLA/5H; (G-I) PLA/10H; and (J-L) PLA/15H.

Figure 7. Fracture surfaces can provide knowledge individual print beads were slowly disappearing as the
and insight on the interaction between the matrix HAp loading was increased. Evolution of macro voids
and reinforcement upon the application of force. The or pores were also noticeable at higher magnifications
tensile-tested PLA/HAp composites exhibited linear, (Figure 7 I and L). These macro voids account
brittle fractures (Figure 7D, G and J), contrary to for the decreasing density and likewise increasing
the somewhat irregular, moderately ductile fracture porosity from Figure 3. A plausible explanation can
from the PLA/0H sample (Figure 7A). Furthermore, be attributed to the agglomeration of HAp particles, [15]
at higher magnifications (Figure 7B, E and H, K) the which causes some areas to be denser and consequently

International Journal of Bioprinting (2021)–Volume 7, Issue 1 119