Direct-ink-write printing of hydrogels using dilute inks

Abstract

Pa·s) by manipulating the interactions between ink and substrate. By exemplifying hydrogel printing, we build a printing system and show that dilute ink of appropriate surface energy, once extruded, can spontaneously wet and reside within the region of higher surface energy on a substrate of lower surface energy, while resisting gravity and maintaining shape before solidification. We demonstrate the diversity for printing various materials on various substrates and three deployments immediately enabled by the proposed method. The method expands the range of printable materials for DIW printing and the toolbox for additive manufacturing.

Topics & Concepts