1
|
Sole-Gras M, Ren B, Ryder BJ, Ge J, Huang J, Chai W, Yin J, Fuchs GE, Wang G, Jiang X, Huang Y. Vapor-induced phase-separation-enabled versatile direct ink writing. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3058. [PMID: 38594271 PMCID: PMC11003993 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47452-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Versatile printing of polymers, metals, and composites always calls for simple, economic approaches. Here we present an approach to three-dimensional (3D) printing of polymeric, metallic, and composite materials at room conditions, based on the polymeric vapor-induced phase separation (VIPS) process. During VIPS 3D printing (VIPS-3DP), a dissolved polymer-based ink is deposited in an environment where nebulized non-solvent is present, inducing the low-volatility solvent to be extracted from the filament in a controllable manner due to its higher chemical affinity with the non-solvent used. The polymeric phase is hardened in situ as a result of the induced phase separation process. The low volatility of the solvent enables its reclamation after the printing process, significantly reducing its environmental footprint. We first demonstrate the use of VIPS-3DP for polymer printing, showcasing its potential in printing intricate structures. We further extend VIPS-3DP to the deposition of polymer-based metallic inks or composite powder-laden polymeric inks, which become metallic parts or composites after a thermal cycle is applied. Furthermore, spatially tunable porous structures and functionally graded parts are printed by using the printing path to set the inter-filament porosity as well as an inorganic space-holder as an intra-filament porogen.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marc Sole-Gras
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Bing Ren
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Benjamin J Ryder
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jinqun Ge
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Jinge Huang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Wenxuan Chai
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Jun Yin
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Gerhard E Fuchs
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Guoan Wang
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Xiuping Jiang
- Department of Food, Nutrition, and Packaging Sciences, Clemson University, Clemson, SC, USA
| | - Yong Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| |
Collapse
|