3D Bioplotter Research Papers

Additive manufacturing (AM) is widely recognized as a versatile tool for achieving complex geometries and customized functionalities in designed materials. However, the challenge lies in selecting an appropriate AM method that simultaneously realizes desired microstructures and macroscopic geometrical designs in a single sample. This study presents a direct ink writing method for 3D printing intricate, high-fidelity macroscopic cellulose aerogel forms. The resulting aerogels exhibit tunable anisotropic mechanical and thermal characteristics by incorporating fibers of different length scales into the hydrogel inks. The alignment of nanofibers significantly enhances mechanical strength and thermal resistance, leading to higher thermal conductivities in the longitudinal…

Aerogels were listed among the top ten emerging technologies in chemistry by IUPAC in 2022. Their record-breaking properties sparked the emergence of a thriving insulation market, but solutions are sought to promote additional applications. A 3D assembly process based on direct ink writing of “aerogel-in-aerogel” nanocomposites is presented. The printed polyimide-silica aerogels are non-brittle (E = 6.7 MPa) with a super-insulating thermal conductivity (20.3 mW m−1 K−1) and high thermal stability (T5wt% 447 °C). In addition, they display excellent low-loss dielectric properties and microwave transmission over all relevant communication bands and can be functionalized for electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding. The high shape-fidelity printing, combined…

Cellulose is a promising candidate for the fabrication of superinsulating materials, which would be of great interest for thermal management applications as well as for the scientific community. Until now, the production of strong cellulose-based aerogels has been dominated by traditional manufacturing processes, which have limited the possibilities to achieve the structural control and mechanical properties seen in natural materials such as wood. In this work, we show a simple but versatile method to fabricate cellulose aerogels in intricate geometries. We take advantage of the 3D printing technique direct ink writing to control both the shape and the thermal-mechanical properties…