In recent years, 3D printing technology has seen remarkable growth in various industries, particularly in medical applications. Today, 3D printing technology provides a significant opportunity for medical companies by enabling the rapid production of medical implants and transforming the way doctors and surgeons plan surgical procedures. This research analyzes the effects of various factors on the mechanical properties of composite plates used for bone fracture fixation, which are produced using 3D printers. The aim of fabricating these plates is to stabilize fractured tibia bones.In this context, mechanical properties, including tensile and flexural properties, were investigated for two types of fiber-reinforced composites. These composites were prepared using glass fibers as reinforcement and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) and polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) resins as matrices. The composite fixation plates were designed using SolidWorks software, and to eva‎luate the reinforcing effects of high-performance fibers, glass fibers with a grade of 100 tex were prepared. The printing process was carried out with a 3D printer using a nozzle diameter of 1.5 mm.The results of mechanical property analysis, based on three-point bending tests, show that fixation plates made from PETG exhibit higher flexural strength than those made from ABS, and the occurrence of failure is delayed. The failure mode of the structures was characterized by indentation under the loading point and buckling in areas near the loading point. A comparison of the maximum flexural force required for the PETG-based composite structure to that of the ABS-based structure indicates an approximately 46.33% increase. Moreover, the specific energy absorption of the PETG-based structure is about three times higher than that of the ABS-based one.Tensile test data indicate that the stiffness of the ABS-based composite sample is higher than that of the PETG-based sample. However, due to the low tensile modulus and strength resulting from the low fiber volume fraction (10%), glass fiber-reinforced composite plates are not recommended for practical applications. Simulations using finite element analysis also explored the use of carbon fibers, which have a significantly higher modulus (220 GPa) compared to glass fibers.The results of three-point bending and tensile tests for PETG-carbon fiber composite fixation plates demonstrate that this composite structure possesses sufficient strength and modulus for use as bone fracture fixation plates. The simulation data show acceptable consistency with the experimental results.

حسين حسني

توحيد دستان

محمد قانع , محمد شيخ زاده