The field of additive manufacturing is more extensive and creative than ever before. Countless possibilities are emerging to create unique things using 3D printing processes that are even so stable that they can be used in construction. Some of them are now made of natural fibres. This is what 3D printing with natural fibres is all about:
From the name alone, natural fibres make it clear that they are of purely biological origin and thus already meet the standard requirements for natural manufacturing. But that is by no means all, because being a natural product alone is not enough to convince an entire industry of its high complexity, stability and thus usefulness. Normally, researchers use plastic or concrete for the additive manufacturing of components. Not in this case. Now, continuous fibres from agriculture are used, funded by the “German Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture”. The so-called FDM process is used for this, but initially on an experimental level with the expectation of later experiencing a corresponding optimisation.
3D printing with natural fibres – why?
Initially, the scientists involved are focusing on implementing natural fibre-reinforced biopolymers. Researchers from the Department of Biobased Materials and Material Cycles in Architecture (BioMat for short) at the Institute of Structural Design at the University of Stuttgart are involved. Project partners have of course long since become aware of this exciting study and so the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research, Rapid Prototyping Technologie GmbH, 3dk-Berlin, ETS Extrusionstechnik, the Wilhelm-Klauditz-Institut (WKI) and ATMAT, among others, have all taken part in the research. They are all very interested in the short fibres, which are made of composite materials. Their basis is bioplastic. According to the definition, the fibres have a maximum length of one millimetre. For the continuous fibres, it is 50 millimetres.
Putting the focus on sustainability
The topic of sustainability has long since arrived in the construction industry. It has to, because no other sector is considered so damaging to the environment and so lax in its use of valuable natural resources. One example is the use of construction sand. It is bought expensively, shipped far and wide, and yet it has its finite nature because there are only a few resources left in the world. That alone makes it interesting to look into other sectors and find new raw materials. Like now in relation to natural fibres. And they have some advantages, especially compared to concrete. Not only are they available almost everywhere and over and over again, they also have a low weight, but still offer the highest stability. The mechanical properties are also convincing, which is why natural fibres are so ideal for the construction of entire buildings.
Always keeping an eye on quality
Finally, there would be no more debates about the use of renewable raw materials. These would be available and therefore reproducible at any time. All in all, natural fibres are gaining ground anyway and are increasingly replacing synthetic fibres in the textile industry. The advantages simply outweigh the disadvantages. Nevertheless, there is a small problem. The fibres do not yet reliably meet the strict industrial quality standards. But the industrious scientists will surely solve this problem, too. The studies are still ongoing. Different raw materials such as flax and hemp are used, and they will continue to do so until the perfect mixture for the optimal fibre is found. For this purpose, the raw materials are mixed with so-called biopolymers. The Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V. (LZH) is in control of the printing process. This is also where the necessary materials and tools for printing come from. The printing of façade elements served as a pilot project in this segment. These will later be sent from Hanover to the university in Stuttgart, where they will serve as the basis for a new building. In this way, the scientists would like to prove once and for all how stable, high-quality and flexible natural fibres can be in the long term. Even if it may still take some time until they are ready for the market. We are curious to see how 3D printing with natural fibres will develop!
Image copyright: krzysztof-m
