随着越来越多的绿色计划在世界范围内突然出现，制作环保索赔的材料市场似乎正在爆炸。仅本周，关于基于生物聚合物的3D打印丝，就有很多发展。
Over in Canada, materials firmsBosk生物产品and丝have launched the country’s first entirely bio-based, compostable line of 3D printing filaments. Named ‘Made with REGEN’, the PHA-based biopolymers contain no fossil fuel oils or chemical additives.
Elsewhere, in London, the Otrivin Air Lab exhibition is showcasing how photobioreactors can be used to turn CO2 waste into 3D printing materials. Created by Claudia Pasquero and Marco Poletto of theecoLogicStudio, the exhibition features a set of 12 photobioreactors capable of photosynthesis, which use CO2 to produce biomass that can be harvested to make 3D printable biopolymer filaments.
In the research sphere, scientists atEPFLhave developed their own biopolymer using non-edible plant material, aka lignocellulosic biomass. The material can be drawn into filament form for 3D printing and behaves similarly to PET, offering toughness, heat resistance, and a great barrier to gases like oxygen. Additionally, the polymer can also be chemically recycled, or simply degrade back into sugar in natural conditions.
加拿大第一个基于生物的堆肥丝
The Made with REGEN filament line relies on bioplastic pellets made in-house by BOSK, which are then turned into filament form by Filaments.ca. As well as biodegrading faster than commonly-used PLA, the firms state the materials also deliver superior mechanical performance, allowing for parts that are less brittle, more heat resistant, and with smoother finishes.
据报道，用六种不同的颜色可供选择，并用恢复材料制成，适用于小型装饰零件，例如雕像，家庭附近的配件，办公用品和其他非关键消费品。
Laurence Boudreault, General Manager of BOSK Bioproducts, said, “It is a common practice in the industry to integrate fossil-based additives to improve the performance of bioplastics, but which have harmful impacts on the health of human beings and our environment. By offering entirely biobased and compostable filaments, BOSK wants to provide a solution to the 3D printing market, well known for the waste from failed prints.”
将二氧化碳变成3D打印零件
Otrivin Air Lab展览中的每个光生反应器都是含有10L光合微藻的玻璃容器。反应器旨在吸收二氧化碳，释放氧气并产生有用的生物质。每天，12个生物反应器总共获得240克二氧化碳，同时释放180克氧和84克生物量。
邀请展览的参观者参加日常收获过程，该过程将收集生物量将转化为3D可打印的生物聚合物。然后，将产生的细丝用于3D打印凳子，花瓶，甚至是斐波那酸烟料。通过将空气废物变成有用的产品，该实验室正在显示循环经济计划的强大计划。
EPFL的基于木材的生物聚合物
最后，EPFL生物聚合物从木质素中获得了大部分结构，该结构在植物细胞的壁上发现。为了开发材料，该团队只需使用便宜的化学品就“煮熟”的木材和其他植物废料。根据研究人员的说法，这提取了木质素并保持糖结构完整，以便在一步中产生可生物降解的聚合物前体。
“By using an aldehyde – glyoxylic acid – we could simply clip ‘sticky’ groups onto both sides of the sugar molecules, which then allows them to act as plastic building blocks,” explains Lorenz Manker, first author of the study. “By using this simple technique, we are able to convert up to 25% of the weight of agricultural waste, or 95% of purified sugar, into plastic.”
The EPFL material can withstand temperatures of up to 100°C, while offering a tensile strength of up to 77 MPa and a stiffness of up to 2,500 MPa. As such, the team believes it can be used in everything from packaging and textiles to medicine and electronics.
Further details of the study can be found in the paper titled“可持续的聚酯通过直接功能化木质纤维素糖”。
The market for sustainable materials
就在上个月，巴西石化公司Braskemreleased itsfirst set of sustainable 3D printing filaments。The product line comprises three different filaments produced from bio-based ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), recycled polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). FL600EVA-BIO, in particular, is a bio-based EVA material derived from raw sugar cane.
Elsewhere, researchers from theUniversity of Delaware(UD) recently released a new research paper exploring ways of economicallyupcycling biomass into new 3D printing materials。The paper focuses on lignin and demonstrates that it is possible to efficiently turn it into bio-based 3D printing resins in an approach they claim is competitive with similar petroleum-based products.
Subscribe to the3D打印行业通讯for the latest news in additive manufacturing. You can also stay connected by following us on推特, liking us onFacebook, and tuning into the3D Printing Industry YouTube Channel。
Looking for a career in additive manufacturing? Visit3D打印作业在行业中选择一系列角色。
Featured image shows bioreactors and 3D printed parts at the Otrivin Air Lab. Photo via ecoLogicStudio.
