scholarly journals 3D Printing and Implementation of Digital Twins: Current Trends and Limitations

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Antreas Kantaros ◽  
Dimitrios Piromalis ◽  
Georgios Tsaramirsis ◽  
Panagiotis Papageorgas ◽  
Hatem Tamimi

Fabricating objects with desired mechanical properties by utilizing 3D printing methods can be expensive and time-consuming, especially when based only on a trial-and-error test modus operandi. Digital twins (DT) can be proposed as a solution to understand, analyze and improve the fabricated item, service system or production line. However, the development of relevant DTs is still hampered by a number of factors, such as a lack of full understanding of the concept of DTs, their context and method of development. In addition, the connection between existing conventional systems and their data is under development. This work aims to summarize and review the current trends and limitations in DTs for additive manufacturing, in order to provide more insights for further research on DT systems.

Gels ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Emanuele Mauri ◽  
Sara Maria Giannitelli ◽  
Marcella Trombetta ◽  
Alberto Rainer

Nanogels represent an innovative platform for tunable drug release and targeted therapy in several biomedical applications, ranging from cancer to neurological disorders. The design of these nanocarriers is a pivotal topic investigated by the researchers over the years, with the aim to optimize the procedures and provide advanced nanomaterials. Chemical reactions, physical interactions and the developments of engineered devices are the three main areas explored to overcome the shortcomings of the traditional nanofabrication approaches. This review proposes a focus on the current techniques used in nanogel design, highlighting the upgrades in physico-chemical methodologies, microfluidics and 3D printing. Polymers and biomolecules can be combined to produce ad hoc nanonetworks according to the final curative aims, preserving the criteria of biocompatibility and biodegradability. Controlled polymerization, interfacial reactions, sol-gel transition, manipulation of the fluids at the nanoscale, lab-on-a-chip technology and 3D printing are the leading strategies to lean on in the next future and offer new solutions to the critical healthcare scenarios.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 844
Author(s):  
Joanna Czogała ◽  
Ewa Pankalla ◽  
Roman Turczyn

This paper reviews the current trends in replacing commonly used plasticizers in poly(vinyl chloride), PVC, formulations by new compounds with reduced migration, leading to the enhancement in mechanical properties and better plasticizing efficiency. Novel plasticizers have been divided into three groups depending on the replacement strategy, i.e., total replacement, partial replacement, and internal plasticizers. Chemical and physical properties of PVC formulations containing a wide range of plasticizers have been compared, allowing observance of the improvements in polymer performance in comparison to PVC plasticized with conventionally applied bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, di-n-octyl phthalate, bis(2-ethylhexyl) terephthalate and di-n-octyl terephthalate. Among a variety of newly developed plasticizers, we have indicated those presenting excellent migration resistance and advantageous mechanical properties, as well as those derived from natural sources. A separate chapter has been dedicated to the description of a synergistic effect of a mixture of two plasticizers, primary and secondary, that benefits in migration suppression when secondary plasticizer is added to PVC blend.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (11) ◽  
pp. 2950
Author(s):  
Hongwei Song ◽  
Xinle Li

The most active research area is nanotechnology in cementitious composites, which has a wide range of applications and has achieved popularity over the last three decades. Nanoparticles (NPs) have emerged as possible materials to be used in the field of civil engineering. Previous research has concentrated on evaluating the effect of different NPs in cementitious materials to alter material characteristics. In order to provide a broad understanding of how nanomaterials (NMs) can be used, this paper critically evaluates previous research on the influence of rheology, mechanical properties, durability, 3D printing, and microstructural performance on cementitious materials. The flow properties of fresh cementitious composites can be measured using rheology and slump. Mechanical properties such as compressive, flexural, and split tensile strength reveal hardened properties. The necessary tests for determining a NM’s durability in concrete are shrinkage, pore structure and porosity, and permeability. The advent of modern 3D printing technologies is suitable for structural printing, such as contour crafting and binder jetting. Three-dimensional (3D) printing has opened up new avenues for the building and construction industry to become more digital. Regardless of the material science, a range of problems must be tackled, including developing smart cementitious composites suitable for 3D structural printing. According to the scanning electron microscopy results, the addition of NMs to cementitious materials results in a denser and improved microstructure with more hydration products. This paper provides valuable information and details about the rheology, mechanical properties, durability, 3D printing, and microstructural performance of cementitious materials with NMs and encourages further research.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (14) ◽  
pp. 4164
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Diederichs ◽  
Maisyn Picard ◽  
Boon Peng Chang ◽  
Manjusri Misra ◽  
Amar Mohanty

Three-dimensional (3D) printing manufactures intricate computer aided designs without time and resource spent for mold creation. The rapid growth of this industry has led to its extensive use in the automotive, biomedical, and electrical industries. In this work, biobased poly(trimethylene terephthalate) (PTT) blends were combined with pyrolyzed biomass to create sustainable and novel printing materials. The Miscanthus biocarbon (BC), generated from pyrolysis at 650 °C, was combined with an optimized PTT blend at 5 and 10 wt % to generate filaments for extrusion 3D printing. Samples were printed and analyzed according to their thermal, mechanical, and morphological properties. Although there were no significant differences seen in the mechanical properties between the two BC composites, the optimal quantity of BC was 5 wt % based upon dimensional stability, ease of printing, and surface finish. These printable materials show great promise for implementation into customizable, non-structural components in the electrical and automotive industries.


Materials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
pp. 1708
Author(s):  
Wenqiang Hua ◽  
Qilang Lin ◽  
Bo Qu ◽  
Yanyu Zheng ◽  
Xiaoying Liu ◽  
...  

Photosensitive resins used in three-dimensional (3D) printing are characterized by high forming precision and fast processing speed; however, they often possess poor mechanical properties and heat resistance. In this study, we report a photocurable bismaleimide ink with excellent comprehensive performance for stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing. First, the main chain of bismaleimide with an amino group (BDM) was synthesized, and then, the glycidyl methacrylate was grafted to the amino group to obtain the bismaleimide oligomer with an unsaturated double bond. The oligomers were combined with reaction diluents and photo-initiators to form photocurable inks that can be used for SLA 3D printing. The viscosity and curing behavior of the inks were studied, and the mechanical properties and heat resistance were tested. The tensile strength of 3D-printed samples based on BDM inks could reach 72.6 MPa (166% of that of commercial inks), glass transition temperature could reach 155 °C (205% of that of commercial inks), and energy storage modulus was 3625 MPa at 35 °C (327% of that of commercial inks). The maximum values of T-5%, T-50%, and Tmax of the 3D samples printed by BDM inks reached 351.5, 449.6, and 451.9 °C, respectively. These photocured BDM inks can be used to produce complex structural components and models with excellent mechanical and thermal properties, such as car parts, building models, and pipes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 254 ◽  
pp. 01018
Author(s):  
František Bárnik ◽  
Milan Vaško ◽  
Milan Sága ◽  
Marián Handrik ◽  
Alžbeta Sapietová

By 3D printing it is possible to create different structures with different fiber-laying directions. These structures can be created depending on the type of 3D printer and its software. The Mark Two printer allows printing Onyx, a material based on nylon in combination with microcarbon fibers. Onyx can be used alone or reinforced with kevlar, glass or carbon fibers. This article deals with 3D printing and evaluation of mechanical properties of printed samples.


Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (21) ◽  
pp. 5042
Author(s):  
Jaeyoung Kwon ◽  
Junhyeok Ock ◽  
Namkug Kim

3D printing technology has been extensively applied in the medical field, but the ability to replicate tissues that experience significant loads and undergo substantial deformation, such as the aorta, remains elusive. Therefore, this study proposed a method to imitate the mechanical characteristics of the aortic wall by 3D printing embedded patterns and combining two materials with different physical properties. First, we determined the mechanical properties of the selected base materials (Agilus and Dragonskin 30) and pattern materials (VeroCyan and TPU 95A) and performed tensile testing. Three patterns were designed and embedded in printed Agilus–VeroCyan and Dragonskin 30–TPU 95A specimens. Tensile tests were then performed on the printed specimens, and the stress-strain curves were evaluated. The samples with one of the two tested orthotropic patterns exceeded the tensile strength and strain properties of a human aorta. Specifically, a tensile strength of 2.15 ± 0.15 MPa and strain at breaking of 3.18 ± 0.05 mm/mm were measured in the study; the human aorta is considered to have tensile strength and strain at breaking of 2.0–3.0 MPa and 2.0–2.3 mm/mm, respectively. These findings indicate the potential for developing more representative aortic phantoms based on the approach in this study.


Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 822
Author(s):  
Jy-Jiunn Tzeng ◽  
Tzu-Sen Yang ◽  
Wei-Fang Lee ◽  
Hsuan Chen ◽  
Hung-Ming Chang

In this study, five urethane acrylates (UAs), namely aliphatic urethane hexa-acrylate (87A), aromatic urethane hexa-acrylate (88A), aliphatic UA (588), aliphatic urethane triacrylate diluted in 15% HDD (594), and high-functional aliphatic UA (5812), were selected to formulate five UA-based photopolymer resins for digital light processing (DLP)-based 3D printing. Each UA (40 wt%) was added and blended homogenously with ethoxylated pentaerythritol tetraacrylate (40 wt%), isobornyl acrylate (12 wt%), diphenyl (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) phosphine oxide (3 wt%), and a pink acrylic (5 wt%). Each UA-based resin specimen was designed using CAD software and fabricated using a DLP 3D printer to specific dimensions. Characteristics, mechanical properties, and cytotoxicity levels of these designed UA-based resins were investigated and compared with a commercial 3D printing denture base acrylic resin (BB base) control group at different UV exposure times. Shore hardness-measurement data and MTT assays were analyzed using a one-way analysis of variance with Bonferroni’s post hoc test, whereas viscosity, maximum strength, and modulus were analyzed using the Kruskal–Wallis test (α = 0.05). UA-based photopolymer resins with tunable mechanical properties were successfully prepared by replacing the UA materials and the UV exposure times. After 15 min of UV exposure, the 5812 and 594 groups exhibited higher viscosities, whereas the 88A and 87A groups exhibited lower viscosities compared with the BB base group. Maximum flexural strength, flexural modulus, and Shore hardness values also revealed significant differences among materials (p < 0.001). Based on MTT assay results, the UA-based photopolymer resins were nontoxic. In the present study, mechanical properties of the designed photopolymer resins could be adjusted by changing the UA or UV exposure time, suggesting that aliphatic urethane acrylate has good potential for use in the design of printable resins for DLP-type 3D printing in dental applications.


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