China3D printingNet February 24th, researchers from the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing have developed a new type of sustainable3D printingMaterial, this material uses termite trash.
After feeding, using the powdered wood chips and feces left by tiny bugs, scientists can formulate a unique circular economy raw material that can be sprayed through a binder3D printingWithout any polymer additives. This bio-based material produces parts with low strength but high dimensional accuracy, so it potentially makes it an ideal choice for creating environmentally friendly gold and silver wire structures in the future.
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The researchers managed to use the termite frass to perform a cubic structure with a size of 200 μm3D printing. Photos taken through the Plos One diary.
From feces to raw materials
As the world continues to seek sustainable manufacturing solutions, the industry is often touted3D printingIt is more environmentally friendly than traditional production methods. Nevertheless, the widespread use of oil-based photopolymers is still a challenge to the green and environmental protection of this technology, and it is necessary to create a recycling alternative.
Natural raw materials are not only good for the earth, but also enable users to determine the product life cycle early in the production process and adjust output accordingly. It is also possible to formulate this self-brewed material by recycling the waste on site, so that it has the potential for cost-effectiveness and sustainable development.
Considering that binder spraying can handle almost all powdered raw materials, this technology is often used as a means to test this new formulation. However, it remains a challenge to refine these materials into powders with appropriate particle size. In order to solve this problem, German scientists have therefore identified a newly optimized particle, but the possibility of use is extremely small: termites.
The insect’s digestive system converts uneven wood into a compact cellulose-lignin mixture, which has proven to be used without further processing3D printing. Although the previous wood raw materials required printing polymer additives or the use of other binder phases, termites do not need to use them, which makes them easy to process.
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The cubic structure (as shown in the picture) has a lower bulk density” alt=” scientist’s
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The cubic structure (as shown in the picture) has a low packing density” width=”620″ height=”479″ />
Scientist’s3D printingThe cubic structure (as shown in the picture) has a lower bulk density. The picture comes from the Plos One journal.
Carry out with termite litter3D printing
In order to create their wood, the scientists raised a small European drilling house (EHBs) and termite farm, and fed it for six months while collecting manure. Facts have proved that the six-sided pill-shaped feces of all termites are almost the same size and have excellent fluidity, making it an ideal choice for making uniform layers.
Once enough raw materials were obtained, the team used commercial3D printingThe machine’s thermal curing station cross-linked them with ExOne adhesives to produce a set of cubic samples. Interestingly, by changing the system’s binder saturation parameter, researchers were able to determine the transfer ratio of the structure with adjustable porosity.
In terms of layer thickness, the best reproducibility result that can be achieved with termite dung is 800μm, while EHB is more accurate at 100μm. Similarly, the team’s dice-like structure has a dimensional accuracy of about 200 μm, but in addition to low packing density, there is also a problem of oversaturation.
As a result, the part showed lower mechanical strength. Although scientists believed that penetration could enhance its robustness, they also admitted that its material was not suitable for printing “ready-to-use items.” Despite this, researchers still believe that EHB wax has retention potential and can be used as a raw material to create filigree structures, although it needs to be enhanced by post-processing.
Additional innovation in sustainable development
In the past year, researchers have been studying3D printingSignificant progress has been made in terms of the ecological impact of the company and the identification of new circular materials.A team at the University of Freiburg has developed its own new type of wood3D printingMaterial. By combining lignin from natural sources with cellulose pellets, scientists were able to create a unique biopolymer that may be useful in lightweight construction applications.
Researchers from Wichita State University, Kansas State University and Kansas State University have jointly developed a data algorithm to explore the potential of sustainable materials. The team is committed to using data analysis, calculation methods and diagnostic tools to make environmentally friendly materials more accessible.
Elsewhere, scientists from NOVA de Lisboa University (UNIDEMI) emphasized the need for further research3D printing的circularity. The research team’s literature review shows that the waste from the polymerization plant has special potential in reducing waste generation and can be used as a recycling material in the future.
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