Printability of a Cellulose Derivative for Extrusion-Based 3D Printing: The Application on a Biodegradable Support Material

Abstract

Support material plays a leading role in the application of 3D printing to avoid deformation and enhance stability. This study aimed to fabricate the support structure by using hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC), which has advantages over conventional material such as low cost, low printable temperature, and high biodegradability. Once dissolved in water over gelling temperature, the HPMC based hydrogel exhibited shearthinning behavior with decreasing apparent viscosity values at higher shear rates. The shear-dependent viscosity makes the HPMC hydrogel extrudable throughout the printing process and the printed structure stable enough without deformation. As concentration increased, apparent viscosity, and storage modulus both subsequently increased. These rheological properties indicated that the concentration of HPMC K4M hydrogel significantly influenced the printability and shape retention ability, which is associated with the mechanical strength of printed filaments. The highest concentration, 12% w/v, should have the best ability to hold the printed shape over time due to the highest G' and lowest loss tangent. The printability test also showed that K4M 12% w/v could be printed into different fill density (100, 75, and 50%) with different patterns, i.e., rectilinear and Hilbert curve. The selection of fill density and pattern both have an effect on surface roughness and porosity. The printed support material was compatible with acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), which is the material to fabricate the main structure for 3D printing. The support material made of HPMC can be easily removed by peeling off from the main structure without visible residual.

Characterization of Hydrophilic Polymers as a Syringe Extrusion 3D Printing Material for Orodispersible Film

“…Thus, requiring more energy and higher force to extrude the printing gels through the narrow nozzle. Recently, it has been reported that the printing gels with higher viscosity seemed to be strongly advantageous in terms of resolution and quality improvement as well as the accuracy of the 3D-printed ODFs structure [34].…”

Spirulina‐based composites for 3D‐printing

“…65 Specifically, as shear rate increases, the interactions between the polymers in the slurry are disrupted and the molecular chains can slide and move more easily. 66,67 There is a progressive increase in viscosity with decreasing water content which, when comparing the highest to lowest water content slurries, exceeds one order of magnitude (Figure 2). We use these slurries to print single-layered structures made up of parallel lines in full contact and confirm that the lowest water concentration (55 wt%), the highest viscosity slurries, leads to the most consistent extrusion process in terms of shape retention.…”

Bacteriophage-Delivering Hydrogels: Current Progress in Combating Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial Infection

“…HPMC is a biodegradable, cellulose-derived natural polymer that can be reversibly crosslinked to form hydrogels upon heating ( Table 1 ) [ 39 ]. Kumari et al produced 3% HPMC hydrogel by dissolving HPMC in warm water, followed by stirring at 100 rpm (rotations per minute) for 15 min until the gel was homogenous in consistency [ 27 , 28 ].…”