A Characteristic Analysis on 3D printing materials for Textiles

Abstract

3D printing is technology making 3D object through the process adding class materials continuously. It is expected that 3D printing technology will cause manufacturing revolution by producing a product personally according to development of internet and software technology. 3D printing technology can be applied to the whole industries such as architecture, airline industry, medical industry producing dentistry prostheses, consumer-electronics industry producing all sorts of electronic components, and even food industry using the ingredient of food. Materials of 3D printing are classified into thermoplastic, powder, resin, metal, and ceramic. Thermoplastic materials cannot put pressure fully in 3D printing process, so are bounded to get elaborate printed matters, and need various properties of different kinds of matter by problems such as particle size and distribution, particle shape, molecular weight, melting point, re-crystallization temperature, viscosity on dissolution, reactivity of laser, volatility, and containing surviving monomer and volatile matter. The 3D printing materials such as BendLay, soft PLA, and TPU are used most in 3D printing of clothes. TPU has flexibility generally, and has the strong corrosion resistance, so is thermoplastic plastics as rubber that is industrially used. This can be very flexible matter according to degree of mixing with other matters. Soft PLA is as rubber because of tightening with excellent roundness. BendLay-3D Filament is a brand name of 3D printing material of modified ABS made by Orbi-Tech. In this article, the positive situation of 3D printing of clothing industry and the 3D printing materials for textiles will be discussed. Clothing industry has tried to make existing comfortable clothing or to print soft clothing with 3D printing technology, but is at an early stage yet. Until now, clothes made by 3D printing have much inconvenience to wear in reality, but many designers and 3D machine manufactures are attracting the public’s attention about a possibility of production of 3D printed textiles. There are several needs for clothing industry using 3D printing to grow. The first need is about material. Various materials that are generally used in 3D printing at present such as general high-molecular substance, metal, and cotton are used in production of clothes. Till now, it is insufficient for these materials to be flexible, warm, and breathable as existing fabrics. Second, it should be favoring-consumer technology. It should be easy for consumers to design, change into 3D file, and do 3D printing. Third, it should be eco-friendly. The whole process from printing to materials should be eco-friendly or possible to recycle, and biodegradable substance should be used.