Sustainable Design of Biocompatible and Mechanically Robust Inks for Direct Ink Writing of Brick-and-Mortar Structures

초록

Industrial plastic waste remains a major environmental concern, particularly in short-lifecycle applications such as prototyping and disposable 3D printing. Although biodegradable polymers offer a promising alternative, their inherently weak mechanical properties hinder widespread adoption. In this study, we present an eco-consciously engineered 3D printing ink composed of cellulose acetate (CA) and muscovite, which forms robust brick-and-mortar microstructures via direct ink writing. The ink exhibits optimized rheological properties and thixotropy, enabling stable extrusion and high structural fidelity during printing. Following printing, CA is converted into cellulose through alkaline treatment, resulting in fully compostable composites. The resulting cellulose-muscovite structures achieve a flexural modulus of up to 6.74 GPa with 20 wt % muscovite, substantially higher than that of polylactic acid (PLA, similar to 2.4-4.9 GPa) and comparable to conventional synthetic plastics. The ink also supports versatile processing, including thin-film fabrication and surface coloration, thereby expanding its potential applications. By combining high mechanical performance, end-of-life compostability, and material circularity, this approach offers a scalable and sustainable solution for reducing plastic waste in temporary or short-lifecycle 3D printed structures.

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