According to a News, Scientists from the “Oak Ridge National Laboratory” (ORNL) have developed a renewable 3D printing material that utilizes lignin, a type of organic polymer that is abundantly available as a biorefinery byproduct.
In nature, lignin is present in plants and algae and functions as a key structural material. In processing biomass, lignin must be removed because it makes it difficult to reduce and break down the organic materials before they can be turned into products.
Being able to use leftover lignin from the biorefinery process to produce 3D printing materials could offer a number of benefits. First, it could reduce the cost of bioproducts and feedstocks. Second, it could make the whole biorefinery process more economically efficient.
In developing the renewable feedstock, the ORNL researchers combined a melt-stable hardwood lignin with a conventional low-melting nylon and carbon fiber. The result was a 3D printable composite with good extrusion properties and which demonstrated good adhesion between layers when printed and excellent mechanical properties.
Typically, lignin can be difficult to work with because of its low heat resistance. Unlike ABS, lignin is only extrudable when heated to a certain temperature and risks becoming too thick to process if the temperature is too high or it is exposed to heat for too long. The research team found a solution to this problem by combining lignin with nylon.
When paired, the materials demonstrated an increased stiffness at room temperature and its melt viscosity decreased—something the scientists found surprising. Additionally, the lignin composite displayed a tensile strength similar to just nylon and a lower viscosity than traditional ABS or high impact polystyrene.
Fore more information check: “3D Printing Media“
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