Direct Ink Writing (DIW) 3D Printing in Embedding Media
Michinao Hashimoto, Ph.D.
Pillar of Engineering Product Development, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore
Digital Manufacturing and Design (DManD) Centre, Singapore University of Technology and Design, Singapore
hashimoto@sutd.edu.sg
Abstract
Embedding media, such as surrounding fluids and microparticulate gels, offer unique physicochemical environments to the printed materials, which greatly enhances the capability of three-dimensional (3D) printing. This talk discusses our recent progress in 3D printing of liquid materials using embedding media. We present a novel approach of 3D printing to fabricate 3D porous models in one step. We termed the process immersion precipitation 3D printing (ip3DP). In ip3DP, we printed polymeric inks directly in a bath of a nonsolvent and solidified them in situ via immersion precipitation. Spontaneous solidification via immersion precipitation generated porosity at micro-to-nano scales. The porosity of the 3D printed objects was readily controlled by the concentrations of polymers and additives and the types of solvents. This work is the first demonstration of three-dimensionally controlled immersion precipitation based on digitally controlled depositions of materials. The same approach was extended for freeform fabrication of thermoplastics in microparticulate gels. Overall, a wide selection of printable materials, and the ability to tailor their morphologies and properties, make ip3DP a versatile method of 3D printing.
Short Bio
Michinao Hashimoto is an assistant professor at Singapore University of Technology and Design leading Soft Fluidics Group. With the overarching research topics of microfluidics, the group works on various cross-disciplinary themes in biomedical engineering, organ-on-chip, 3D printing, food engineering, and soft robotics. Michinao received his B.S. degrees in Chemistry and Biochemistry/Biophysics from Oregon State University (2003), and Ph.D. degree from Harvard University (2009), followed by postdoctoral training at Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Children’s Hospital Boston.