Other studies have focused on the effect that different additives can have on the degradation of polymers. For example, montmorillonite is a nanoclay known for accelerating the processes of hydrolytic degradation and biodegradation of PLA . Consequently, degradation becomes a critical factor to consider when using polymer nanocomposites. This effect may be detrimental in applications where resistance to environmental factors is required, but advantageous in cases where biodegradability is desired for end-of-life disposal. One relevant point about these processes of water absorption and degradation is that they are not linear and the polymers behave very differently in every stage of the process depending on which factor is dominant. Thus, regular monitoring is essential for achieving a profound comprehension of the phenomena at play. Moetazedian et al. performed this type of detailed study in the context of 3D printing PLA for biomedical applications and described how at early stages the loss of crystallinity is the main factor affecting the mechanical properties, while in later stages the dominant process is the hydrolysis of the polymer chains. They also characterized how the degradation times change dramatically corresponding to temperature, with the polymer reaching zero tensile strength at 270 days if submerged at 37 • C, while only taking 4 days if the water is at 65 • C. In this context, the advantage of automation is clear, as it allows for systematic measurements in processes that happen in just a few hours without interruptions related to work schedules.