EPFL announced Thursday that the new ink contains a bacteria that produces calcium carbonate when it comes in contact with a solution containing urea. In about four days, any 3D-printed shape turns into a bone-like material.
The scientists presented this new printing method in the specialist journal “Materials Today”. The final products no longer contain live bacteria as they are dipped in ethanol at the end of the mineralization process.
In addition to its possible uses in medicine, the material is ideal for the restoration of works of art. So it can be injected directly into a vase or sculpture. Additionally, the ink is a promising candidate for the construction of artificial corals that could be used to regenerate damaged marine reefs.
EPFL said in a statement that it is extremely difficult to produce bone-like materials in a lab or factory. For this, the ink must be liquid enough to squirt out of a 3D printing nozzle, but solidify after printing. Until now, researchers have tried to obtain such materials by adding small mineral particles to the ink. However, the resulting structures tended to shrink after drying, causing cracking.
(SDA)
Source : Blick
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