High Resolution 3D Printing with Cellulose Acetate

Sammanfattning: In this project, an additive manufacturing technique called Direct Ink Writing has been used to 3D print structures from polymer solutions containing cellulose acetate. Cellulose acetate is a synthetic compound derived from plants. The intended application involves protein separation filters for medical purposes. The printing has been performed in a lab environment with focus on high resolution, with less than 10 micrometers in fibre size. Glass capillaries with an inner diameter of 3-10 micrometers were used as nozzles. Three-dimensional structures with a height of 100 micrometers and a fibre thickness of 2 micrometers were made. The results indicates that cellulose acetate is a promising polymer for Direct Ink Writing in high resolution. Improvements are needed in the ink design and/or the technical construction of the printer to avoid clogging of the nozzle.