Fig. 5: Sustainable 3D printing utilizing reversible salting-out effects and its potential applications.
From: Sustainable 3D printing by reversible salting-out effects with aqueous salt solutions
a Printing of PNIPAM-based ink solution onto a substrate wetted by a salt solution for spontaneous and rapid solidification. The right printed structure has approximately ten layers along the Z axis. b Embedded printing of PNIPAM-based solution ink in a support bath comprising Pluronic F-127 and CaCl2. c Side and top view photographs displaying two different solidified PNIPAM/PVA structures with different sizes printed in the middle of the bath. d The entire recycling process of the printed PNIPAM structure: dissolution in water, water evaporation, and re-dissolution in water. e PNIPAM/CNT-based electrically conductive and water-soluble disposable printed structure. f Dye-loaded PNIPAM carrier transferring the red dye to the bottom substrate while dissolving in water. g Self-folding and unfolding multi-stage actuator responding to simple environmental changes in salt concentrations.
