(NanoWerk.com) – Scientists at Beijing Key Laboratory of CryoBiomedical Engineering, part of the Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, have developed a conceptual 3D printing method with “ink” consisting of a metal alloy that has a melting point slightly above room temperature. In a new study published by journal Science China Technological Sciences, researchers Liu Jing and Wang Lei present a liquid-phase 3D-printing technique for rapid manufacturing of a conductive metal object in one, two or three dimensions. Compared with air cooling in conventional 3D printing, the liquid-phase manufacturing process prevents the metal ink from oxidation. Three-dimensional metal printing technology is an expanding field that has enormous potential applications in areas ranging from supporting structures to functional electronics to medical devices. Conventional 3D metal printing is generally restricted to metals with a high melting point, and the process is rather time consuming. Published by Sandra Helsel, October 1, 2014 |
