Additive Manufacturing of Wood Nanocomposites Using Natural Fibers
摘要
Wood has long been a cornerstone material in construction and design, yet traditional subtractive manufacturing methods often result in significant waste and elevated production costs. This work introduces a novel approach to address these challenges by leveraging additive manufacturing techniques to create wood structures. Our methodology utilizes a water-based ink composed of lignin and cellulose, the fundamental components of natural wood, enabling the direct ink writing of architecturally designed wooden structures. The mechanical properties of the 3D-printed wood are further enhanced by introducing natural fibers into the wood ink. Furthermore, the inherent lack of fire resistance in wood significantly restricts its potential applications. In this study, we incorporate hexagonal boron nitride into the ink formulation to enhance the fire resistance of 3D-printed wood structures. The resulting printed structures closely mimic the visual, textural, olfactory, and mechanical properties of natural wood while also exhibiting superior fire-resistant characteristics. This innovative approach not only offers a sustainable pathway for upcycling and recycling wood but also presents a promising solution for the development of fire-resistant wood structures.