Spectroscopic investigation of transparent polylactic acid

In the recent years, the 3D printing technology became more affordable, being used in various fields like medicine, design, architecture, manufacturing and electronics. Using 3D printed materials has many advantages: speed, cost, design freedom, customization and sustainability. An application in which 3D printing can be used is Visible Light Communication (VLC), where the polylactic acid (PLA) material can be used as cover for the transmitter (which is typically a LED), or the receiver, in order to protect the system from various external factors. The paper investigates how transparent PLA material with various thicknesses attenuates and influences the spectral composition of the light passing through it. The reflectance spectrum is measured using a spectrometer, and the attenuation using a light meter. Based on the results, it can be determined if PLA can be used in a certain optical application, depending on the spectral composition of the involved light.