3D printing technology is used to make not only big things like houses, but also small things like snowflakes. The new material makes the latter more powerful than ever and can print significantly faster.
Developed by scientists at Stanford University, the composite is primarily intended for use in nanoscale grid-like structures utilized to protect small underlying components, such as electronics. It consists of a polymer resin bound with small clumps of metal atoms known as metal nanoclusters.
In an existing process called two-photon lithography, a liquid resin mixture is irradiated with a laser. When the center of that beam hits one of the nanoclusters, a chemical reaction occurs that hardens the resin in that specific area. As a result, very small and complex objects can be constructed by precisely passing a laser beam through the resin.
Gratings printed from this particular material were tested and found to be able to absorb twice as much energy as gratings printed from other commonly used materials. Some types of lattices made from new composites are excellent at carrying heavy loads without deforming, while others bounce back to their original, undamaged shape after being crushed to absorb impact. There were also excellent ones.
As an added bonus, when the grid was printed, the metal nanoclusters allowed chemical reactions to occur much faster than other materials that utilize different types of photosensitive molecules. It was found even when many different polymers were used in the composite. In one case, using protein-based polymers, we were able to print items 100 times faster than was previously possible with such polymers.
“Currently, there is a lot of interest in designing different types of 3D structures for mechanical performance,” Asst said. Professor Wendy Gu, corresponding author of the paper on this study. “On top of that, we’ve developed a material that’s really good at resisting forces, so it’s not only a 3D structure, but it’s also a material that offers very good protection.”
The paper was recently published in the journal chemistry.
Source: Stanford University
