Kuttig J. et al

Title: Mechanical properties of 3D printed water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol for maxillofacial prostheses prototypes.
Authors: Jochen Kuttig, Phan Hai-Binh Bui, Alexey Unkovskiy, Christine Schille, Jürgen Geis-Gerstorfer, Sebastian Spintzyk
Published: May 26, 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24354/medmat.v1i2.14

Abstract

A digital workflow to produce maxillofacial prostheses could improve reproducibility and aesthetic outcomes. The possibility to 3D scan patients’ limbs is given, but there is no method established to produce the prostheses from this data. In this study, tests were performed and a protocol developed to print 3D objects from water-soluble polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) in consistent quality. Prototypes of maxillofacial prosthesis were fabricated (Figure 1). Those could be used to create molds for the casting of prostheses and therefore close the gap in the digital workflow. To proof the stability of the 3D printed PVA objects, their flexural strength and flexural modulus were determined. The outcome suggests the typical anisotropic mechanical properties of 3D printed objects.