3D-printed structures developed for complex self-evolving deformations
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chnology to thoroughly test it was only recently developed. “Liquid-phase TEM makes it possible to view the whole process—from the binding of calcium ions by the matrix, to the formation of amorphous calcium carbonate and its subsequent transformation to crystalline vaterite—at high resolution, as it proceeds in the reaction solution,” said Fiona Meldrum, a materials chemist from the University of Leeds who was not involved in the research. “In combination with other experimental methods, the work provides new insight into the mechanisms by which organic molecules control crystallization.”
The finding comes at an ideal moment, as concern grows about the impact of excess atmospheric carbon dioxide on the health of the planet. Biomineralization is a natural way to sequester this carbon, removing it from the atmosphere and depositing it elsewhere. Although such technology is a long way from implementation, understanding the process could help researchers recreate it artificially to deliberately remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. “Carbon dioxide begs for sequestration,” said De Yoreo. “What we’re looking at here is a way of promoting this process.” Laurel Hamers
that bend and stretch in response to their environment. They are not unlike the water-capsule children’s toys that blow up into dinosaurs in water. However, these active structures extend the process to ome technological advances happen more sophisticated shapes and functionalby accident. Some happen on purities that can exhibit controllable responspose. And some are the result of cones to a greater variety of external stimuli, certed and creative efforts by researchers including electric fields, temperature, and to explore areas of common interest. light. The team’s work is described in the A team of scientists led by Dan December 2014 issue of Scientific Reports Raviv of the Massachusetts Institute of (DOI: 10.1038/srep07422). Technology (MIT) has developed a manThe design step implemented three ufacture workflow that combines combasic structural units (or primitives): one putationally driven design with printable bending primitive, and two stretching primitive components, aided by realistic primitives. These primitives are constitusimulations. With this framework, users ent components of the larger, complex can design and print non-trivial structures shape being manufactured. The bending primitive relies on differential expansion between fused materials. When stimulated, one side ex38 cm × 38 cm × 1.25 cm 1.2 cm × 2.5 cm × 1.25 cm pands at a greater rate than the other side, resulting in a curve. The angle and the plane of the curve are controlled by the dimensions and relative position of the two printed materials. The two stretching primitives use two different schemes. In the first scheme, the mechanism A complete example embedding dynamic primitives of stretching and folding on a grid. This grid can accommodate is similar to the bending a self-evolving deformation into a complex structure with both primitive, except that convex and concave parts.
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