Researchers at Harvard University have made strides in the 3D printing world by developing a method to to print cellular composites. They are using an epoxy resin that has a record lightness and
stiffness for a material in it’s class. The Harvard published article states”that that their technique yields cellular composites that are as stiff as wood, 10 to 20 times stiffer than commercial 3D-printed polymers, and twice as strong as the best printed polymer composites. The ability to control the alignment of the fillers means that fabricators can digitally integrate the composition, stiffness, and toughness of an object with its design.”
Principal investigator Jennifer Lewis looked to balsa wood for inspiration, saying “Balsa wood has a cellular architecture that minimizes its weight since most of the space is empty and only the cell walls carry the load. It therefore has a high specific stiffness and strength”. Balsa wood is one of the materials that is an outlier when you compare strength to density. In their post, Gizmag explains that typically, ” density and strength always seem to go hand-in-hand. The very light foams are generally extremely weak, and on the other end of the spectrum, the heavy materials like steels and other metals are among the strongest we know”.
But there is a big problem; balsa wood is in seriously short supply. Everything that demands a light but strong structure, from wind turbine blades to to model airplanes, is limited Ecuador, which has 95% of the worlds stock. Demand is a driver of innovation, and the new printing method was developed.
Suspected uses for this new technology include wind turbines, lighter and safer cars, and anything that requires a structural application.
What challenges do you face when picking materials that are both light and strong?
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