{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,10,14]],"date-time":"2026-10-14T14:06:46Z","timestamp":1791986806798,"version":"4.4.0"},"reference-count":34,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"9","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1757289600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JFB"],"abstract":"<jats:p>This study investigates the thermal properties and sterilization efficacy of polylactic acid (PLA) components fabricated via fused deposition modeling (FDM), focusing on PLA\u2019s compatibility with autoclave sterilization protocols. While PLA is extensively recognized for its biobased and biodegradable characteristics, its limited thermal stability has traditionally restricted its application in high-temperature sterilization settings, such as in medical contexts. In our research, we examined three distinct specimen geometries\u2014cylindrical, rectangular, and curved\u2014subjecting them to thermal post-processing through constrained annealing, employing salt or silicone as the embedding medium. Following this process, we exposed the specimens to elevated temperatures, simulating typical sterilization conditions. The outcomes indicated that the annealed PLA specimens exhibited dimensional stability at temperatures exceeding 170 \u00b0C, thereby demonstrating their viability for steam sterilization procedures. To translate these findings into practical applications, we selected a small, complex geometrically relevant component, the Easy Bone Collector (EBC) shell, for autoclave testing at 134 \u00b0C. Post-sterilization, the part successfully retained its shape and functionality, indicating that, with appropriate thermal conditioning, PLA can be effectively utilized to manufacture cost-efficient, autoclavable components suitable for medical use. These results reveal a promising and sustainable approach to producing reusable, sterilization-compatible PLA devices, particularly in low-volume or single-use applications where biodegradability is advantageous.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jfb16090334","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]],"date-time":"2025-09-08T10:29:07Z","timestamp":1757327347000},"page":"334","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":6,"title":["Sustainable Thermal Post-Processing of PLA 3D Prints: Increased Dimensional Precision and Autoclave Compatibility"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Florina","family":"Chiscop","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Robots and Production Systems Department, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Splaiul Independen\u021bei 313, 060041 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1163-9462","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Carmen-Cristiana","family":"Cazacu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Robots and Production Systems Department, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Splaiul Independen\u021bei 313, 060041 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Dragos-Alexandru","family":"Cazacu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Education Team, PTC Eastern Europe SRL, Splaiul Independen\u021bei 319, 060044 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8719-2743","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Costel Emil","family":"Cotet","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Robots and Production Systems Department, Faculty of Industrial Engineering and Robotics, National University of Science and Technology POLITEHNICA Bucharest, Splaiul Independen\u021bei 313, 060041 Bucharest, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,9,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Shaik, Y.P., Schuster, J., Shaik, A., Mohammed, M., and Katherapalli, H.R. 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