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Moisture absorption into hygroscopic/hydrophilic materials used in fused deposition modeling (FDM) can diminish desired mechanical properties. Sensitivity to moisture is dependent on material properties and environmental factors and needs characterization. In this article, moisture sensitivity of four grades of polylactic acid (PLA) filaments and four different ratios of PLA/polybutylene succinate (PBS) blended filaments were characterized through FDM printed American society for testing and materials (ASTM-D638) test samples after conditioning the filaments at different relative humidity levels. The tensile testing and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the samples' fracture surfaces revealed that PLA 4043D was the most moisture-sensitive among the chosen grades of PLA filaments. Through filament tension test and melt flow index (MFI) testing it was observed that moisture had a significant detrimental effect (20% reduction in tensile strength and 50% increase in MFI) on PLA 4043D filaments. Samples from moisture-conditioned PLA/PBS 75/25 blended filaments displayed a significant reduction (10%) in tensile strength. Moreover, the MFI of 75/25 filaments was increased with subsequent increases in moisture level. Investigation of tensile properties of ASTM samples made from four grades of PLA filaments exposed to room temperature and humidity conditions for 3 months showed an even more significant decrease in strength (ranging from 24% to 36%). 

Thermoplastic resins (linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP)) reinforced by different content ratios of raw agave fibers were prepared and characterized in terms of their mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties as well as their morphology. The morphological properties of agave fibers and films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and the variations in chemical interactions between the filler and matrix materials were studied using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. No significant chemical interaction between the filler and matrix was observed. Melting point and crystallinity of the composites were evaluated for the effect of agave fiber on thermal properties of the composites, and modulus and yield strength parameters were inspected for mechanical analysis. While addition of natural fillers did not affect the overall thermal properties of the composite materials, elastic modulus and yielding stress exhibited direct correlation to the filler content and increased as the fiber content was increased. The highest elastic moduli were achieved with 20 wt % agave fiber for all the three composites. The values were increased by 319.3%, 69.2%, and 57.2%, for LLDPE, HDPE, and PP, respectively. The optimum yield stresses were achieved with 20 wt % fiber for LLDPE increasing by 84.2% and with 30 wt % for both HDPE and PP, increasing by 52% and 12.3% respectively.