Today, most 3D printing materials still use fossil-based materials such as plastics and resins. Although TAs have good application prospects in the fields of automobiles and ships, the production of these materials is important for climate change and green recycling. It's not good. To this end, the European NOVUM project team is studying cellulose-based 3D printing materials for more environmentally friendly additive manufacturing in more industries.
The thermoplastic material developed during the project contains cellulose derivatives, cellulose powder and bio-based plasticizers, and the cellulose content is 60% higher than the "commercial reference". Nevertheless, they still have the same or even better material strength properties, and can be adjusted according to the requirements of the end use.
Cellulose was selected as the basis of the material developed in this project because of its natural, sustainable and versatile potential to replace a variety of synthetic materials. When considering the combination of cellulose and 3D printing, cellulose is not thermoplastic in nature, which is a key challenge for project participants to solve.
Common 3D printing techniques (for example, fused filament manufacturing (FFF)) can be used to print the developed cellulose-based material, and the final product is light in weight and has a smooth surface. During the project life cycle, the material development and printing process will be demonstrated by creating components for electrical insulation, marine and automotive industries.
Cellulose is already a common raw material in the manufacture of electrical insulation components, but, according to project participants, current production methods are inefficient in terms of labor, time, energy, and waste generation. By developing methods for 3D printing cellulose-based materials to create components suitable for the field, participants hope to increase the efficiency of the production process without using molds.
Elsewhere, outdoor decorative elements on cruise ships are a possible use case of the technology developed in the marine sector, while in the automotive sector, bio-based materials can replace fossil-based materials and help improve the sustainability of the industry.
The project is also exploring the 3D printing of wood fiber foam to create a thick and porous fiber structure that does not collapse when dry. Although the technology to produce such structures in 2D has been established, it is reported that creating such structures in 3D through additive manufacturing is a new field. Participants in this project are studying the best fiber foam compound in the 3D printing process, precautions for layer bonding, and how to minimize drying time.
The project has conducted successful trials to print wood fiber foam structures using extruder nozzles, and the next step is to explore how to apply commercial 3D printers to this process. Participants believe that the potential applications of these types of structures are in construction and transportation, as sound insulation and shockproof materials.