Water-based Engineering & Fabrication: Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing of Biomaterials
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Water-based Engineering & Fabrication: Large-Scale Additive Manufacturing of Biomaterials Laia Mogas-Soldevila1 and Neri Oxman1,2 1 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Architecture and Urban Panning, Media Lab, Mediated Matter Group, 75 Amherst St., Room E14-333, Cambridge, MA, 02142 U.S.A. 2 Corresponding author’s email: [email protected]
ABSTRACT In nature, water assembles basic molecules into complex multi-functional structures with nano-to-macro property variation. Such processes generally consume low amounts of energy, produce little to no waste, and take advantage of ambient conditions. In contrast digital manufacturing platforms are generally characterized as uni-functional, wasteful, fuel-based and often toxic. In this paper we explore the role of water in biological construction and propose an enabling technology modeled after these findings. We present a water-based fabrication platform tailored for 3-D printing of water-based composites and regenerated biomaterials such as chitosan, cellulose or sodium alginate for the construction of highly sustainable products and building components. We demonstrate that water-based fabrication of biological materials can be used to tune mechanical, chemical and optical properties of aqueous material composites. The platform consists of a multi-nozzle extrusion system attached to a multi-axis robotic arm designed to additively fabricate extrusion-compatible gels with graded properties. Applications of the composites include small and medium-scale recyclable objects, as well as temporary largescale architectural structures. INTRODUCTION While contemporary digital fabrication tools are able to produce geometrically sophisticated objects and structures, such constructs are typically not sustainable insofar as material and energy use are considered [20]. In contrast, water-based assembly observed in nature employs mild chemicals, produces little to no waste, and uses small amounts of energy to produce multifunctional and adaptable systems [6]. Water exists throughout nature and in all biological materials [1]. It provides for an invisible scaffold designed to assemble basic molecules into structures with complex functions and property gradients. Examples include the giant squid beak where water content contributes to a significant stiffness gradient [5, 6, 8]. The squid’s beak is one of the hardest and stiffest wholly organic materials known. Water-storing proteins, and polymers are carefully combined to generate its internal structure contributing to exceptionally graded material properties. When hydrated the beak exhibits an extreme functional gradient across its structure: it is sharp and firm at the tip with a tensile strength of 35MPa, and 10 times more compliant at the rim with a tensile strength of 3.5MPa [8]. Another example of water-mediated structural performance is the chitinmade insect cuticles and crustacean shells. These structures accomplish dual functionality enabled by variable hydration. Chitin can be found, at once, in hard composites that shield
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