AMS 2024

3D Printing News Unpeeled: Disposable 3D Printed Clay, Insect PLA and Antimicrobial Ferroelectric Composites

Electronics
Metal AM Markets
AMR Military

Share this Article

After Olivier van Herpt, Unfold Studio and others there is a new 3D printing clay effort in town. The Berlin based startup Geastar says that it 3D prints bowls made of clay water and salt that are single use. Inspired by Indian Kulhars which have been used for millennia. Bowls can be smashed or put in the trash and they say its environmentally friendly because it returns to the constituent materials its made of. They claim this is an environmentally friendly recycling method. I’m confused by this, ceramics have been able to do this for thousands of years? What does 3D Printing add to the equation? Why does it have to be discarded? If you just toss the material is it really recycling, I don’t think so. But, it is true that the materials are less harmful than polymers. Is it really a case of being environmentally friendly? The materials can be returned to the earth but we’d have to look at the amount of energy, transport and water that goes into this. What I do love is that they´ve sold over a million cups in Germany. So this is a high volume application for 3D printing. Also, I think that it would feel much more luxurious to hold a clay 3D printed cup than a plastic one so this may turn out to be a better marketing option for many brands. The company has raised $6.5 million to make this dream a reality.

In the paper, Characterization and Performance of Additive Manufactured Novel bio-waste Polylactic acid eco-friendly Composites, a team including Bright Brailson Mansingh, Joseph Selvi Binoj and others from India, Thailand and Singapore has found a way to make a sustainable, biodegradable material out of PLA mixed with chitosan and chitin from insects. The material has better ductility than PLA and the team thought that it would have applications in food packaging. Well, perhaps not for vegans. Also by also using PLA the product uses a lot of water already.

A new paper in Advanced Materials Technologies by researchers Zois Michail Tsikriteas and others at the University of Bath shows us how they made an antimicrobial ferroelectric composite (an electric field tunable meta composite). This could be used to make medical components such as implants and medical devices. The team has mixed barium calcium zirconate titanate (BCZT)  ferroelectric particles  in polycaprolactone (PCL). Subsequently structures are 3D printed that allow for a antimicrobial effect.

Share this Article


Recent News

Spare No Details: Harold Sears Sheds Light on 3D Printing in Auto Repair Task Force

Mayo Clinic’s Approach to Liability in 3D Printing: “Every Device Endures Scrutiny”



Categories

3D Design

3D Printed Art

3D Printed Food

3D Printed Guns


You May Also Like

3D Printing Webinar and Event Roundup: December 3, 2023

We’ve got plenty of events and webinars coming up for you this week! Quickparts is having a Manufacturing Roadshow, America Makes is holding a Member Town Hall, Stratafest makes two...

Featured

Ricoh Partners with Materialise to Enhance 3D Printing in Hospitals

Ricoh (TYO: 7752) announced a partnership with Materialise (Nasdaq: MTLS) at the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA) 2023 event. This collaboration aims to make 3D printing more accessible and...

Featured

World’s First Whole-Eye Transplant Enabled with Materialise 3D Printing Tech

In an extraordinary medical achievement, Materialise (Nasdaq: MTLS) has played a crucial role in the world’s first successful whole-eye transplant, including a partial face transplant from a single donor. A...

Ricoh’s Vision for Medical 3D Printing: An Interview with Managing Director Gary Turner

In the last decade, 3D printing has steadily carved its niche within the medical sector. Incorporating the technology is a testament to the ever-evolving nexus of technology and healthcare. As...