| Cellulose is the most abundant organic compound on the earth. Researchers have been working hard to develop it. 3D printing Methods to take full advantage of its availability. There are still many problems that limit the practical application of 3D printed cellulose, such as lack of scalability, high production costs and derivatives that cause pollution when used in combination with plastics. But recently from Singapore Technology Researchers at the University of Design and Design (SUTD) have developed a sustainable way to not only use cellulose for 3D printing, but also to print large objects in 3D.  Cellulose forms a hard outer shell of green plants, but SUTD researchers look elsewhere for inspiration, gain inspiration from the wall of fungus-like oomycetes, and replicate by introducing a small amount of chitin between cellulose fibers. Composite material (FLAM) is sturdy, inexpensive, light weight, etc. It can be processed using woodworking technology.  It does not use organic solvents or synthetic plastics to make the material completely environmentally friendly. The expandable renewable material is also biodegradable under outdoor composting facilities and other natural conditions. It is also very affordable - the cost of FLAM is roughly the same as that of commodity plastics. , 10 times cheaper than ordinary plastic wire (such as ABS and PLA). The researchers also developed additive manufacturing technology for FLAM. 'We believe that the first large-scale additive manufacturing process and the most ubiquitous biopolymers on Earth will become catalysts for the transition to environmentally friendly and recycling-type manufacturing modes in which materials are produced, used and degraded in closed-area systems. The co-director of the project, Javier Gomez Fernandez, assistant professor of SUTD, said: 'This kind of replication and manufacture of materials is found in the walls of oomycete, namely unmodified cellulose, a small amount of chitosan (second on earth Abundant organic molecules and low concentrations of acetic acid may be one of the most successful technological achievements in the field of bio-sensitive materials.  It is reported that the study was published in a paper entitled 'Large-scale additive manufacturing and biologically stimulated cellulosic materials'. 'We believe that the results reported here represent a turning point in global manufacturing and have a wider impact on many areas of materials science, environmental engineering, automation and economics,' said Stylianos Dritsas, assistant professor and co-director of the project. , We have been focusing on the development of basic technologies and have very little time to devote to specific target applications. We are now in the stage of seeking industrial partners to bring this technology from the laboratory to the world. SUTD researchers are developing FLAM to meet the growing demand for more sustainable materials, and it is a promising material that does not require forest resources or farmland. 3D printing is just like the entire manufacturing industry. More environmentally friendly 3D printing material The SUTD team believes FLAM may be the answer. The fact that powerful and lightweight materials provide good conditions for large 3D printed structures is particularly encouraging. It is reported that the authors of the paper include Naresh D. Sanandiya, Yadunund Vijay, Marina Dimopoulou, Stylianos Dritsas and Javier G. Fernandez. Source: 3D Tiger |
 |
|