Layered 3D Printing by Tethered Pyro-Electrospinning

Abstract

Nowadays it is easy to imagine that the exploitation of different additive manufacturing approaches could find use in regenerative medicine and frontiers nanotechnology with a strong interest in the development of in vivo bio-incubators that better replicate the tissue environment. Various electrospinning technologies have been exploited for the fabrication of composite polymeric architectures, where fibers have been used for the construction layer by layer of micro-architectures. Unfortunately, in case of processing biomaterials, the intrinsic factors of the materials could become obstacles when considering such advanced engineering methods. Here, for the first time, we use the pyro-EHD process for the fabrication of layered three-dimensional architectures made using a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer. The proposed approach for layered 3D printing works at mild temperature allowing deposition at high resolution and great flexibility in manufacturing, avoiding high voltage generators, and nozzles. The layered 3D printing, activated by the pyro-electric effect, is discussed and characterized in terms of geometrical features and processing parameters. Different geometries and micro-architecture (wall, square, triangle, and hybrid structures) have been demonstrated and over printing of composite polymer, obtained by mixing multiwall carbon nanotubes and fluorochrome, has been discussed, focusing on the use of a biodegradable and biocompatible polymer.

Characterization of 3D Printed Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia Parts for Use in Prostheses

“…It has several variants. As an example, the use of a pyroelectric field allows fibers to be drawn on the top of a substrate [17].…”

3D‐Printed Functional Polymers and Nanocomposites: Defects Characterization and Product Quality Improvement

“…The two most common 3D technologies that operate on the principles of ME are FFF and DIW, although techniques such as fused particle fabrication (FPF), 3D fiber deposition, 3D microfiber extrusion, and fluid dosing and deposition as well as pyro-electrohydrodynamic tethered electrospinning (TPES) are also becoming more popular. [42,43]…”

Direct Ink Writing Technology (3D Printing) of Graphene-Based Ceramic Nanocomposites: A Review

“…Today, there is a wide variety of AM technologies used for different types of materials. Table 1 lists the most popular manufacturing additive technologies in the industry, and the possible types of feedstock that can be used in each technology [ 17 ]. From this, it is easy to appreciate that not all AM technologies are suitable for the processing of ceramic materials.…”

“…Direct Ink Writing (DIW) and Fused deposition modeling (FDM) are the two common technologies that operate under the principles of material extrusion. However, in the last past years, a new AM technique named Pyro-EHD Tethered Electrospinning (TPES) that is based on electrohydrodynamic processes and can be related to material extrusion category became more and more popular [ 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”