Humans have printed on paper for centuries. But now MIT researchers have found a way to print with cellulose, paper’s primary ingredient. The world’s most abundant organic polymer, and the main one that gives wood its mechanical properties, cellulose is inexpensive, biorenewable, biodegradable, and very chemically versatile.
Previous attempts to use cellulose for 3-D printing have been limited because heated cellulose thermally decomposes before it becomes able to flow, and high-concentration cellulose solutions are too viscous to be easily extruded.
The MIT team works with cellulose acetate. This material, which is easily made from cellulose by acetylating some of its hydroxyl groups, can be dissolved in acetone and extruded through a nozzle. After extrusion, the acetone quickly evaporates and the cellulose acetate solidifies in place. A subsequent optional treatment replaces the acetate groups with groups found on the original cellulose molecule to strengthen the printed parts.
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