3D Printing of Large-Scale Biodegradable Material (2024-07)¶

The growing concerns of environmental sustainability have led to the development of eco-friendly 3D printing technologies using biodegradable materials such as sawdust. Simultaneously, sawdust is a terrific substrate for fungal growth which can turn the sawdust into a mycelium-bound composite. With appropriate formulation, sawdust can be printed as an “ink” to create objects of different shapes and sizes. Nonetheless, the fibrous structure of the sawdust-based biodegradable material can pose challenges regarding water bleeding during the pumping process. To enhance the pumpability of sawdust-based material, alternative materials need to be incorporated to retain water content. Therefore, this research primarily aims to resolve the pumpability of the sawdust-based material and focuses only on the printing of sawdust material. From the results, it was found that while having high moisture is necessary for material extrusion, however, above a threshold, it will not be beneficial to the buildability aspect. Additionally, the addition of agar powder and coffee grounds improves the mycelium growth whereas the addition of calcium carbonate does not have a significant effect on the growth. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the printability of sawdust-based materials and their potential as sustainable alternatives in 3D printing applications. By addressing the challenges of pumpability, this research contributes to advancing the utilization of biodegradable materials, paving the way for more environmentally friendly manufacturing processes.