Engineers have developed a way to use plant cellulose as a feedstock for 3D printers – a solution researchers say is not only environmentally friendly but could also be cheaper and stronger than conventional alternatives.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) post-doc Sebastian Pattinson said a lot of products which used cellulose could benefit from the kinds of customisation that 3D printing enables.
“Cellulose and its derivatives are used in pharmaceuticals, medical devices, as food additives, building materials, clothing – all sorts of different areas.”
The MIT team used cellulose acetate, a widely available cellulose-based material that can be dissolved in acetone and extruded through a 3D printer nozzle. The acetone evaporates quickly, allowing the material to solidify.
The high availability and low cost of cellulose, when compared with other filament materials used in 3D printing, should make it commercially attractive with further development.
On the local front FWPA is funding a research team within the University of Southern Queensland also has a research team investigating the types of 3D printer feedstocks that can be processed from forestry and wood processing residue.
Concurrently and also with FWPA funding, a multi-disciplinary team at the University of Sydney is investigating the types of construction materials that can be produced via 3D printing for use in current construction projects. The investigation focuses mainly on architectural panels, produced using waste lignocellulosic materials including macadamia nut shells as well as other forestry and wood processing by-products.
Source: New Atlas / MIT and FWPA
Image credit: MIT
