3D printing - Materials

Inspired by the color-changing skin of cuttlefish, octopuses and squids, engineers have created a 3D printed smart gel that changes shape when exposed to light, becomes "artificial muscle" and may lead to new military camouflage, soft robotics and flexible displays.

Materialise  announces  Bluesint PA12, a material innovation that makes it possible to 3D print with up to 100% re-used powder.

Built for exceptional temperature stability, this new product thrives in printing conditions that no existing water-soluble support material can withstand. This makes it uniquely compatible with industry-favored thermoplastics such as Polyetheretherketone and Polyetherimide and significantly reduces the cost and time of downstream processing.

Henkel and Carbon to combine materials and printing expertise for high-performance additive manufacturing. Henkel and Carbon today have announced a partnership agreement to collaborate for Loctite branded formulations validated for use with Carbon's additive manufacturing process.

Researchers have developed a method to perform direct ink writing 3D printing of milk-based products at room temperature, while maintaining its temperature sensitive nutrients.

Researchers have developed a biocompatible material that can be 3D-printed into any shape and pre-programmed with reversible shape memory. The material is made using keratin, a fibrous protein found in hair, nails and shells. The researchers extracted the keratin from leftover Agora wool used in textile manufacturing.

A viscous biopaste that is easy to process, solidifies quickly and is suitable for producing even complex structures using the 3D printing process has been developed. The wood-based biodegradable synthetic could potentially be used in lightweight construction, amongst other things.

The construction industry is currently facing two major challenges: the demand for sustainable infrastructure and the need to repair deteriorating buildings, bridges and roads. Researchers report progress toward a sustainable building material made from local soil, using a 3D printer to create a load-bearing structure.

Architects and marine scientists have jointly developed a novel method for coral restoration making use of specially designed 3D printed artificial 'reef tiles' for attachment by corals to enhance their chance of survival .