Researchers have developed a new 3D printing technique capable of producing microfibers measuring just 1.5 microns in diameter. The advancement, detailed in a January 20 study published in Nature Communications, overcomes previous limitations in printing very thin, soft materials.
The team utilized a method called embedded printing, which deposits material into a gel mold rather than building layers from the ground up. This approach provides better support for delicate structures during the printing process. The researchers modified both the gel and printing ink to enable instant curing, preventing the thin filaments from breaking during production.
“Achieving such high printing resolution means we now have the technological foundation to mimic the microfibers and hair-like structures found in nature, which exhibit remarkable functionalities,” said Wonsik Eom, an engineer at Dankook University who participated in the study. The printed fibers are notably thin compared to standard paper, which typically ranges from 50 to 200 microns in thickness.
The research team drew inspiration from hagfish slime, a natural substance containing extremely fine fibers. Using their modified embedded printing technique, they were able to create complex 3D structures that maintain their shape without being affected by gravity.
The new printing method allows for the creation of intricate hair-like structures with precise control over their dimensions and arrangement. According to Sameh Tawfick from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, this technique enables the production of complex 3D hair structures with fine diameters using ultraprecise 3D printing technology.
Source: mechse.illinois.edu