Today, we will tell you about the work of the Flake Graphene Research Group related to the use of G-Flake® materials as feedstock for 3D printers. It is worth noting that graphene-related materials can be used in this context using at least two approaches: as an additive to printing filament or as a component of pellets.
Some time ago, along with researchers from BioMaterials Group WUT we have managed to demonstrate that G-Flake® materials can be successfully implemented as a component of pellets, which are used to print complex structures such as three-dimensional scaffolds for bone tissue regeneration.
In this case, we focused on reduced graphene oxide, which significantly altered the surface properties of the polymer matrix, including surface potential, roughness, and stiffness. All of these material properties can influence the interaction of the scaffolds with living cells and tissue after implantation into a patient’s body.
Learn more: Investigation into morphological and electromechanical surface properties of reduced-graphene-oxide-loaded composite fibers for bone tissue engineering applications: A comprehensive nanoscale study using atomic force microscopy approach
Other characteristics of the material, correlated with the distribution of the nanoadditive in its volume are also altered, including: density, compressive and tensile strength of the material, Young’s modulus, degradation kinetics and degree of crystallinity.
Currently, at Łukasiewicz – Institute of Microelectronics and Photonics, we are working on a filament for printers that could be used to print electrically conductive elements for flexible electronics.