Researchers at the University of Melbourne have developed smart 3D printable polymers that can perform certain functions triggered by chemical reaction in a particular environment.
Dr. Luke Connal and his team from the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering are working on the development of materials that could be used to 3D print objects for specific functions, such as cleaning up environmental toxins for example. These materials are turned into filament that can be printed on affordable FMD printers.
“Basically we are trying to add function to these 3D printed objects. Rather than just having a inanimate printed object, we are creating something that you can do something else with,” Dr. Connal explains.
Part of the research team is PhD student Milena Nadgorny who brings her expertise in inkjet printing to the research. “We dreamt this up and Milena started it. Our expertise is making polymers. We saw the opportunity to make polymers that change shape or change properties with a trigger and we set out to develop methods to feed these polymers into a 3D Printer,” Dr. Connal said.
Only a few scientists have worked on such materials before as it is rather challenging, starting from the production of the material to making sure it has the right shape and complex properties to carry out its function, and to being 3D printable. Thus, a lot of difficulties arise in producing a filament that can be melted and printed, maintaining its chemical properties.
The team has also come up with specific ideas what these polymers can be used for: a flow regulation device, consisting of a polymer valve that opens and closes to control the flow rate of water, depending on the pH level of water flowing through it or a catalytic device that can remove environmental pollutants from water by neutralising toxic substances over time.
Dr. Connal adds: “This is early research for us in the area of functional polymers and 3D printing and we believe there is scope to further develop the work and to partner with industry in creating novel solutions with these new smart materials.”
The researcher’s findings were published in the paper “Three Dimensional Printing of pH-Responsive and Functional Polymers on an Affordable Desktop Printer” in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.
Subscribe to our Newsletter
3DPresso is a weekly newsletter that links to the most exciting global stories from the 3D printing and additive manufacturing industry.
