New 3D printing tech creates ultra-strong materials

Cross-section of a copper-infused hydrogel and large iron gyroid. Pic/By Special Arrangement

Researchers have developed a 3D printing method that offers intricate constructions for next-generation energy, biomedical, and sensing technologies. Developed by researchers in Lausanne, Switzerland, the new method helps grow metals and ceramics inside a water-based gel, resulting in exceptionally dense constructions.

Instead of using light to harden a resin pre-infused with metal precursors, as previous methods have done, the team created a 3D scaffold using a simple water-based gel called a hydrogel.

Then, they infuse this ‘blank' hydrogel with metal salts, before chemically converting them into metal-containing nanoparticles that permeate the structure. This process can then be repeated to yield very high metal concentration composites.

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