The advent of 3D printing has opened up a whole new world of manufacturing possibilities, allowing designers and engineers to quickly fabricate complex shapes and designs using a variety of materials. However, plastic has been the dominant material used in 3D printing for years, raising serious concerns about environmental sustainability and creating the need to explore alternative materials. While many researchers and innovators are already exploring alternative materials, including biomaterials and metals, it’s worth considering what materials we might see used in 3D printers in 2023 and how they might revolutionize the technology.
One potential area for growth is the use of bio-based and biodegradable materials, which offer benefits in terms of sustainability and recyclability. For instance, researchers are developing bioplastics that can be made from renewable sources like corn or sugarcane, which can be processed into filaments suitable for 3D printing. Such materials will significantly reduce environmental impacts, and the products made from such materials will be biodegradable.
Metals are another area of opportunity for 3D printing. While metals have been used in 3D printing for some time, new developments in additive manufacturing processes have helped optimize metal 3D printing for producing parts with greater strength and precision. The use of metals in 3D printing is becoming increasingly popular in construction, wherein components and parts manufactured eventually result in lightweight, durable and resilient structures.
Further, researchers are exploring the use of new materials, including conductive inks, graphene, and carbon nanotubes. Such materials can have various applications like the printing of electronic components and parts or even serve in the military industry for creating weapons.
One revolutionary application of 3D printing materials can be its contribution to the tissue engineering field. Researchers have been working on bioprinting, which allows for the creation of three-dimensional constructs such as living tissues, bone constructs, and more. The researches have explored the use of biomaterials, including hydrogels, proteins, and other biocompatible materials, to form 3D bioprinted tissues and organs. Biomedical applications in which the patient’s own tissues can be used to regenerate and form a new organ can revolutionize the medical field.
In conclusion, the potential for new materials to be used in 3D printing over the next few years is vast. While we may continue to see plastic used in 3D printing, the trend in the coming years will be to utilize smarter, more eco-friendly materials for the more significant part of manufacturing. Such developments will not only reduce environmental impacts but also expand the possibilities for rapid prototyping and product development. The time has finally arrived to move beyond plastic and start printing smarter.