Innovative wood ink used in 3D printing creates thermally stable, biodegradable objects resembling natural wood #EcoFriendlyTechScientists develop 'ink' to 3D-print objects from wood waste, paving the way for eco-friendly production #SustainableWood. Credit: newatlas.com

A groundbreaking "ink" has been developed by researchers, allowing for the production of 3D-printed objects made entirely out of wood.

This innovative material not only has the potential to reduce the amount of wood wasted in manufacturing processes, but it also utilizes existing wood waste that would otherwise be discarded or burned.

Although the idea of using wood in 3D printing is not new, previous attempts have involved using cellulose derived from wood or mixing sawdust with bio-epoxy resin.

However, a team of scientists at MIT have taken it a step further by growing lab-cultivated wood into predetermined three-dimensional shapes.

Now, researchers at Rice University in Houston claim to be the first to successfully 3D print objects using a material composed solely of natural wood components.

The "ink" is a mixture of cellulose nanofibers, cellulose nanocrystals, and lignin - an organic polymer found in plant cells, including trees.

These components can be extracted from wood waste generated by industries such as forestry, construction, and consumer goods.

The 3D printing process used with this wood ink is known as direct ink writing (DIW), which is similar to the commonly used fused deposition modeling (FDM) technique.

However, instead of cooling, the material is solidified through a sintering process. This involves freeze-drying the printed objects at -85 ºC (-121 ºF) for 48 hours, followed by heating them at 180 ºC (356 ºF) for 20 to 30 minutes, which converts the lignin into a "molecular glue" that binds the cellulose fibers and crystals.

The resulting objects closely resemble natural wood in appearance, texture, and scent, and are even thermally stable. In fact, they are mechanically stronger than balsa wood, which was used as a comparison in the study.

Additionally, these 3D-printed objects are biodegradable, making them more environmentally friendly than traditional wood products.

One of the major advantages of this wood ink is that only the necessary amount is used to print an object, unlike the waste generated when carving or milling from a block of wood.

"The ability to create a wood structure directly from its own natural components sets the stage for a more eco-friendly and innovative future," said lead scientist Asst. Prof. Muhammad Rahman. "It heralds a new era of sustainable 3D-printed wood construction."

The researchers do acknowledge that the freeze-drying and heating steps in the process require a significant amount of energy, so they are actively exploring alternative methods.

Their findings were recently published in the journal Science Advances, demonstrating the potential of this wood ink in paving the way for a more sustainable and greener future.

Source: newatlas.com
David Lamy
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