TY - JOUR AU - Chen, Joshua V. AU - Tanaka, Kara S. AU - Dang, Alan B. C. AU - Dang, Alexis PY - 2020 DA - 2020/04/15 TI - Identifying a commercially-available 3D printing process that minimizes model distortion after annealing and autoclaving and the effect of steam sterilization on mechanical strength JO - 3D Printing in Medicine SP - 9 VL - 6 IS - 1 AB - Fused deposition modeling 3D printing is used in medicine for diverse purposes such as creating patient-specific anatomical models and surgical instruments. For use in the sterile surgical field, it is necessary to understand the mechanical behavior of these prints across 3D printing materials and after autoclaving. It has been previously understood that steam sterilization weakens polylactic acid, however, annealing heat treatment of polylactic acid increases its crystallinity and mechanical strength. We aim to identify an optimal and commercially available 3D printing process that minimizes distortion after annealing and autoclaving and to quantify mechanical strength after these interventions. SN - 2365-6271 UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s41205-020-00062-9 DO - 10.1186/s41205-020-00062-9 ID - Chen2020 ER -