Highly conductive metallic gel enables room temperature 3D Printing
The ability to 3D print metal objects at room temperature in a single step is a significant advancement. Using a mixture of micron-scale copper particles suspended in water and an indium-gallium alloy, the researchers have created a metallic gel that can be printed using a conventional 3D printing nozzle. As mentioned, Michael Dickey, the co-corresponding author of the paper and a professor at North Carolina State University, highlights the significance of the research in the context of 3D printing. The ability to print 3D metal objects at room temperature in a single step is a breakthrough that can significantly impact manufacturing, particularly in producing electronic components and devices.
The potential of this advancement is to revolutionize manufacturing by enabling the production of a wide range of electronic components and devices. Referring to the published paper in Matter, the research and its implications would provide more detailed information on this innovative approach’s methodology, results, and potential applications. The gel-like consistency of the mixture ensures a uniform distribution of copper particles throughout the material, enabling the formation of electrical pathways. This uniform distribution also prevents the settling of copper particles, which could otherwise clog the printer. The resulting gel retains its shape during and after printing, becoming more solid as it dries at room temperature.
Applying heat during drying can induce controlled structural changes in the printed object. By carefully controlling the pattern of the printed thing and the amount of heat used, it is possible to manipulate the object’s shape after printing. This additional dimension of “time” in the printing process opens up new possibilities for creating structures with desired dimensions. The conductivity of the printed objects is another notable feature. Since they contain a high percentage of metal (up to 97.5%), they exhibit high conductivity, although not as high as conventional copper wire. Nonetheless, this conductivity surpasses what can be achieved with other 3D printing materials. This makes the metallic gel particularly exciting for applications requiring conductivity, such as electronic components and devices. By working together, researchers can uncover new directions for research and identify practical implementations of this innovative approach.
By North Carolina State University. Researchers create highly conductive metallic gel for 3D printing.
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