Researchers Review 3D Printing with Biomass-Derived Composites
Researchers from State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry , University of Tennessee , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , and The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture have come together to research materials for 3D printing, specifically with a focus on composites made from biomass.
Composites are being used more widely as users explore materials that are magnetic , PLA additives , mixtures of recycled polymers , graphene , and more. More natural materials like wood, and specifically lignin , have been a source of experimental studies, too, in efforts to strengthen certain materials for given applications.
In this study, the authors focus on lignocellulosic biomass and derivatives, reviewing and analyzing a variety of additives for 3D printing. Their findings have been released in the recently published ‘ 3D printing of biomass-derived composites: application and characterization approaches .’
The study of materials is often just a means to an end for the manufacturing of high-performance parts; however, there is also a need for more biocompatible and environmentally-friendly polymers. Because lignocellulosic biomass is natural—and plentiful—it is used in creating bio-fuels, paper, and more, composed of:
Cellulose
Hemicellulose
Lignin
Proteins
Other extractives
“The development of biomass-derived materials using 3D printing technology as an alternative to fossil oil-based plastics will provide an opportunity to achieve sustainable and renewable bioeconomy,” explained the authors.
Number of patents for cellulose and biomass-derived in 3D printing.
Renewable materials have been a substantial source of study, especially in terms of cellulose.
(a) Schematic of the tree hierarchical structure illustrating the role of cellulose. Reprinted with permission from ref. 44. Copyright 2011 Chemical Society Reviews. (b) SEM image of the CNF, scale bar 6 μm. Reprinted with permission from ref. 30. Copyright 2019 Advanced Functional Materials. (c) TEM image of CNCs, scale bar 100 nm. Reprinted with permission from ref. 30. Copyright 2019 Advanced Functional Materials. (d) SEM image of BC produced by Komagataeibacter xylinus. Scale bar 5 μm. Reprinted with permission from ref. 46. Copyright 2017 RSC Advances.
There have been 5,100 patents for 3D printing with cellulose since 2015:
“This trend implies that the application of biomass and its components in 3D printing has become a hot topic and cellulose for 3D printing has been widely used,” stated the authors.
(a) Mechanism of FDM/FFF. (b) “Printing zone” defined in an FDM printing (ABS, HIPS and NBR41–HW represent acrylonitrile–butadiene–styrene, high impact polystyrene and acrylonitrile butadiene rubber with 41 mol% of nitrile contents, respectively). Reprinted with copyright permission from ref. 25....
