Hydrogel 3D Printing with Polyhydroxylated Polymer Crosslinking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Three-dimensional printing systems face limitations in commercial production due to the restricted range of materials and challenges in maintaining print accuracy and material properties, especially when introducing new materials, which complicates the design of suitable printing processes.
Innovation Solution
The development of hydrogel three-dimensional printing kits and systems that utilize a particulate build material comprising 90-100 wt% polyhydroxylated swellable polymers and a crosslinking agent with water and reactive crosslinkers, allowing for iterative layer-by-layer crosslinking to form hydrogels with desired shapes and properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional three-dimensional printing processes are used with new materials, then material versatility is improved, but manufacturing precision and material property control deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the printing process by using temperature-controlled material deposition and controlled crosslinking reactions. The build material is heated to facilitate crosslinking while maintaining shape fidelity, and the crosslinking agent concentration and application timing are precisely controlled to achieve desired material properties without compromising print accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material systems consisting of polymeric build material combined with crosslinking agents. This composite approach allows the material to exhibit both the ease of deposition required for accurate printing and the enhanced mechanical properties achieved through crosslinking, thereby maintaining manufacturing precision while expanding material versatility
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional three-dimensional printing processes are used with new materials, then material versatility is improved, but reliability of material properties deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements precise control over temperature, crosslinking agent concentration, and curing time parameters to ensure consistent material properties. The build material is maintained at specific temperatures during deposition and crosslinking, and the crosslinking process is controlled to achieve uniform mechanical properties across different printed objects, thereby ensuring reliability despite using diverse polymeric materials
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms through controlled crosslinking processes where the reaction between the build material and crosslinking agent is monitored and regulated. This allows for consistent material properties to be achieved across different printing runs and material batches, ensuring reliability of material properties while maintaining versatility in material selection
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the creation of hydrogels with controlled water content and mechanical properties, suitable for various applications, including tissue engineering and drug delivery, by precisely applying a crosslinking agent to polyhydroxylated swellable polymers, resulting in flexible and robust three-dimensional printed objects.
Implementation Method 1
the water swells the polyhydroxylated swellable polymer
Implementation Method 2
the crosslinker reacts with hydroxyl groups of the polyhydroxylated swellable polymer to crosslink the polyhydroxylated swellable polymer
Data Source
AI summary
This disclosure describes hydrogel three-dimensional printing kits, methods of three-dimensional printing hydrogels, and hydrogel three-dimensional printing systems. In one example, a hydrogel three-dimensional printing kit can include a particulate build material and a crosslinking agent. The particulate build material can include from about 90 wt % to 100 wt % of a polyhydroxylated swellable polymer. The crosslinking agent can include water and a crosslinker that is reactive with hydroxyl groups of the polyhydroxylated swellable polymer to crosslink the polyhydroxylated swellable polymer.