Three-dimensional printing of wood

Md Shajedul Hoque Thakur, Chen Shi, Logan T. Kearney, M. A.S.R. Saadi, Matthew D. Meyer, Amit K. Naskar, Pulickel M. Ajayan, Muhammad M. Rahman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Scopus citations

Abstract

Natural wood has served as a foundational material for buildings, furniture, and architectural structures for millennia, typically shaped through subtractive manufacturing techniques. However, this process often generates substantial wood waste, leading to material inefficiency and increased production costs. A potential opportunity arises if complex wood structures can be created through additive processes. Here, we demonstrate an additive-free, water-based ink made of lignin and cellulose, the primary building blocks of natural wood, that can be used to three-dimensional (3D) print architecturally designed wood structures via direct ink writing. The resulting printed structures, after heat treatment, closely resemble the visual, textural, olfactory, and macro-anisotropic properties, including mechanical properties, of natural wood. Our results pave the way for 3D-printed wooden construction with a sustainable pathway to upcycle/recycle natural wood.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbereadk3250
JournalScience Advances
Volume10
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 15 2024

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