Ivanova O.S., Elliott A., Campbell T.A., Williams C.B.
Virginia Tech, US
Keywords: 3D printing, additive manufacturing, nanoparticles, nanosuspension
Additive Manufacturing (AM) pertains to technologies that fabricate 3D artifacts through the successive addition of 2D cross-sectional layers. Due to this layer-by-layer fabrication process, AM allows a designer to create geometrically complex artifacts with designed topologies and meso-structures that cannot be fabricated by any other means. As a process that only uses the material needed, AM is an inherently low-waste, environmentally friendly manufacturing approach. However, the narrow choice of materials used in AM remains a key limitation of this technology. In order to advance AM material selection, we look to introduce nanomaterials into AM materials as a means of modifying their fundamental material properties. The goal of our research is to introduce a nanosuspension into an AM system, thereby creating an inkjettable liquid for 3D printing of parts. As a variety of nano-inks can be deposited simultaneously to create graded materials, the presence of nanoparticles will offer the AM designer greater flexibility in the final design of material properties.
Journal: TechConnect Briefs
Volume: 2, Nanotechnology 2012: Electronics, Devices, Fabrication, MEMS, Fluidics and Computational (Volume 2)
Published: June 18, 2012
Pages: 275 - 278
Industry sectors: Advanced Materials & Manufacturing | Sensors, MEMS, Electronics
Topic: Inkjet Design, Materials & Fabrication
ISBN: 978-1-4665-6275-2