3D-Printed Wood: Programming Hygroscopic Material Transformations. MIT researchers develop method for 3D printing wood.
3D Printing with hygroscopic material like wood
3D Printing with hygroscopic material like wood. This will be a unique material for 3D printing because it tends to absorb moisture from the air. The researchers aimed to mimic the natural behavior of wood, which expands and contracts in response to changes in humidity. To achieve this, the researchers used a multi-material 3D printing approach, in which a hygroscopic material is printed with an auxiliary material that controls its expansion and contraction. The resulting structure is a wood-like material that responds to changes in humidity, similar to natural wood.
The article also discusses the potential applications of 3D-printed wood, such as creating sustainable and customizable furniture and building materials. The authors note that this technology could reduce waste and energy consumption in manufacturing and enable new design possibilities.
This is the innovative use of 3D printing technology to mimic the behavior of natural materials and create new materials with unique properties.
Beyond nature, 3D printed Wood tissue.
3D-Printed Wood: Programming Hygroscopic Material Transformations.