Printing Performance Research Articles

Operational Performance and Energy Efficiency of MEX 3D Printing with Polyamide 6 (PA6): Multi-Objective Optimization of Seven Control Settings Supported by L27 Robust Design

Both energy efficiency and robustness are popular demands for 3D-printed components nowadays. These opposing factors require compromises. This study examines the effects of seven general control variables on the energy demands and the compressive responses of polyamide (PA6) material extrusion (MEX) 3D printed samples. Nozzle Temperature, Layer Thickness, Orientation Angle, Raster Deposition Angle, Printing Speed, Bed Temperature, and Infill Density were studied. An L27 orthogonal array was compiled with five replicas. A total of 135 trials were conducted, following the ASTM D695-02a specifications. The stopwatch method was used to assess the construction time and energy usage. The compressive strength, toughness, and elasticity modulus were experimentally determined. The Taguchi technique ranks each control parameter’s impact on each response measure. The control parameter that had the greatest impact on both energy use and printing time was layer thickness. Additionally, the infill density had the greatest influence on the compressive strength. Quadratic regression model equations were formed for each of the response measures. The ideal compromise between mechanical strength and energy efficiency is now reported, with merit related to technological and economic benefits.

Improvement of 3D printing performance of pea protein isolate Pickering emulsion gels by regulating electrostatic interaction between protein and polysaccharide

3D food printing had attracted wide attention for its multiple advantages such as being able to customize food according to individual needs. In this study, plant-based edible inks suitable for 3D food printing applications were formulated using Pickering emulsion gels containing pea protein isolate (PPI) and flaxseed gum (FG). The effect of different electrostatic interaction between PPI and FG on the 3D printing performance, rheology properties and microstructure of emulsion gel inks were investigated in acidic (pH 3) and neutral (pH 7) environments, respectively. At pH 3, the inks showed good printing performance with the addition of FG at 0.5%, 0.7% and 0.9%, respectively. At pH 7, the inks at 0.5% had the best 3D printing performance. They demonstrated printing performance with precise shape, smooth surface and clear texture. The inks produced were soft matter solids with a storage modulus (G′) greater than the loss modulus (G″). According to Lissajous plots analysis, the addition of FG significantly improved the viscoelasticity, which was beneficial to improve the 3D printing performance of inks. These inks also exhibited good thermal stability. In addition, Cryo-SEM analysis showed that the inks had a striated structure at pH 3 but a honeycomb structure at pH 7 due to the difference in electrostatic interaction. And the honeycomb structure is more stable compared to the striated structure. This study showed that edible inks can be formulated from plant-derived ingredients, which may increase their application in the development of plant-based foods with improved properties using additive manufacturing processes.

4D printing of edible insect snacks: Color changes with external pH stimulation

To increase consumers’ acceptance, food 3D/4D printing could be a suitable technology to develop attractive and nutritious insect foods. This study investigated the feasibility of making 4D printed snacks using cricket powder and purple potato puree as main ingredients, and the effect of ink composition on the 3D printing performance was investigated, while the color change caused by pH stimulation (4D) was measured. The results showed that the content of cricket powder and water in the ink significantly affected its rheological properties and printability. The color of the 3D-printed samples varied greatly with pH from red to green but was accompanied by high color stability. Additionally, the hardness, gumminess, adhesiveness, and cohesiveness of the 4D-printed snacks were significantly altered after the pH modification. This research opened a new window for the development of attractive 4D-printed insect snacks, which could be practically applicable of insect proteins for human foods.

Nanostarch-enhanced 3D printability of carrageenan emulsion gel for high-fidelity and nutrition-fortified fish fat mimics

3D-printed fish analogues have gradually been produced as substitutes for real fish meat for the rising of personalized diet and food safety, as well as environmental concerns related to marine biodiversity and seafood supply. However, it is still a challenge of preparing shaped fish fat mimics based on precise structural and nutritional regulations of food 3D printing technology. In this study, nanostarch (NS) particles were used to enhance the printability of carrageenan (CG) emulsion gels with different oils. The rheological properties, printing ability, printing precision, moisture state, microstructure, and emulsion stability of NS/CG emulsion gels as printable food-ink were investigated at different NS concentration ratios (0–5 wt%). Compared with native starch (micron-sized granules), the addition of nanoscale NS led to decreases in viscosity and G’ of inks for easier extruding performance. Also, NS (especially 4 wt%) shaped fish fat mimics with smoother surfaces, better printing precision and expansion rate. It optimized the mimic formula with tightly bound water T2b which was similar to that of real fish tissue. When the NS and CG contents were used at 4% and 2% (4N2G), respectively, the printed fat mimics had the highest printing precision (94.33%) and the best emulsion stability (Turbiscan stability index <0.1). Furthermore, when DHA-rich fish oil was introduced into the 4N2G system compared with soybean oil, it showed not only similar printing performance but also better microstructural homogeneity with increased nutrition supplements.

Laser‐Assisted Direct Ink Writing for High‐Fidelity Fabrication of Elastomeric Complex Structures

AbstractPolydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is extensively applied in the 3D printing field due to its excellent biocompatibility, flexibility, and gas permeability. However, as a thermal curing material, its low strength before curing inevitably causes structural deformation during the printing process and deteriorates the shape accuracy. In this paper, an innovative method, the infrared laser‐assisted direct ink writing (DIW) process, is developed to realize the in situ preheating and curing of silicone materials to improve the strength of PDMS filaments during processing. Therefore, the large‐span spatial structure with high‐fidelity morphology can be produced. First, the feasibility is validated that temperature ascension of the voxels arising from the irradiation energy of the infrared laser can accelerate the cross‐linking reaction and realize the precuring of PDMS; then, the relationship between the parameters of laser irradiation and the processing performance of 3D printing is systematically investigated to find the optimization. Finally, experiments are conducted, including the single silicone filament, silicone foams, and complex 3D features. Their excellent structural preservation proves the proposed method is practical to fabricate the high‐fidelity fabrication of complex structures such as large spans and thin wall features, which will help to broaden the 3D printing capabilities of silicone in the development of flexible electronics and soft robots.

Effect of different hydrocolloids on the physicochemical, printing, and digestion properties of 3D printed purple sweet potato

This study investigated the influence of different hydrocolloids, namely hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, xanthan gum, guar gum, flaxseed gum, and κ-carrageenan gum on the physicochemical, printing, and digestion properties of 3D printed purple sweet potato (PSP). Aside from κ-carrageenan gum, addition of these hydrocolloids could improve the 3D printing performance of PSP. Addition of hydrocolloids significantly altered the water mobility and rheological characteristics of PSP. The tanδ (G”/G’) values of PSP-hydrocolloid mixtures were strongly related to their 3D printability. The hydrogen bonds in PSP-hydrocolloid samples were weakened compared to PSP-H2O. In comparison to other hydrocolloids, the addition of guar gum significantly decreased the level of starch digestion in PSP during in vitro digestion. The release of phenolics and anthocyanins was highly correlated with the extent of starch digestion. The variations in interactions between hydrocolloids and phenolics affected the release of individual phenolics from PSP during gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation. PSP-guar gum exhibited a significantly higher content of phenolics released after colonic fermentation than the other PSP-hydrocolloid samples. Overall, this study provided theoretical guidance for addition of hydrocolloids into plant-based food materials to enhance their 3D printing performance and modulate their release of intrinsic bioactives as well as digestion of starch during gastrointestinal digestion and colonic fermentation.

The Effect of Nozzle Temperature on the Low-Temperature Printing Performance of Low-Viscosity Food Ink.

Low-temperature food printing technology is used in many fields, such as personalized nutrition, cooking art, food design and medical nutrition. By precisely controlling the deposition temperature of the ink, a food with a finer and more controllable structure can be produced. This paper investigates the influence of nozzle temperature on printing performance via a numerical simulation and experimental research. The results indicate that the ink gradually changed from a granular state to a fLow-characteristic deposition structure when the nozzle temperature increased from 19 °C to 27 °C. When the nozzle temperature exceeded 21 °C, the ink demonstrated excellent extrusion behavior and tended to flow. The widths of the rectangular frame deposition showed no obvious changes and were 4.07 mm, 4.05 mm and 4.20 mm, respectively. The extrusion behavior of the ink showed a structural mutation in the temperature range of 19-21 °C. Its line width changed from 3.15 mm to 3.73 mm, and its deposition structure changed from a grainy shape to a normal shape. Under the influence of different environmental control capabilities, bulk structure deposition demonstrates an ideal printing performance at 21, 23 and 25 °C, and the latter temperature is more suitable in the case of large external interference. The ink flowed violently when the nozzle temperature reached 27 °C, at which point the deposit structure flowed and deformed seriously. On the other hand, evaporation losses had a strong effect on Low-viscosity ink. To reach the full potential of this promising technology, it is necessary to determine the effect of nozzle temperature on printing performance. This article provides a method for developing and applying Low-viscosity, Low-temperature food printing.

3D printable vegan plant-based meat analogue: Fortification with three different mushrooms, investigation of printability, and characterization

In this study, a meat analogue formulation prepared using different protein sources as a printable ink for 3D printers and fortified with three different mushroom cultivars (reishi, Ganoderma lucidum (GL); saffron milk-cap, Lactarius deliciosus (LD); and oyster, Pleurotus ostreatus (PO)). 3D printing performance of the prepared inks was evaluated by factorial design in terms of nozzle height, printing speed, and flow compensation. New methods of maximum layer height and reprintability of plant-based meat analogues were conducted for the first time. Inks were characterized by analyzing rheological properties, microstructure, color characteristics, texture profile, cooking loss, amino acid content, and sensory evaluation. Results showed that the nozzle height and printing speed were found to be most effective on accuracy of prints and smoothness of layers. All inks (C, GL, LD and PO) represented shear-thinning and gel-like viscoelastic behavior (G′ > G″) with predominant elasticity (tan δ < 1). Therefore they were suited for 3D printing and possessed supporting the following layers for additive manufacturing as well as meeting the criteria for a stable structure. Meat analogue was printed successfully without perceived defects in all formulations, except the GL was looking linty. LD and PO inks brought the advantage of recycling as a result of their re-printability whereas GL could not. Moreover, mushroom fortification reduced hardness, stiffness, springiness, and chewiness properties of the meat analogues whereas it increased the juiciness with reasonable overall acceptance. Mushroom fortification also enhanced the nutritional value and improved release of umami amino acids. The findings of the study demonstrated that mushrooms could be a functional and nutritious candidate for 3D printable plant-based meat analogues.

A multiobjective optimization parameters applied to additive manufacturing: DOE-based approach to 3D printing

The performance and quality of 3D printing, as well as the mechanical properties of the final part, depend on its printing parameters, such as layer thickness, printing speed, infill density, filling pattern, printing material, and many others. In this study, the influence of printing parameters on the mechanical properties of the final printed part is investigated, and at the end, a multi-objective optimization was performed on the experimental responses. To study the effects of printing parameters, the Design of Experiments methodology was used, where five parameters considered essential were evaluated: layer thickness, printing speed, infill density, filling pattern, and printing material. Once everything was printed, mechanical tests of traction, compression, and bending were used to obtain the experimental curves. After obtaining the experimental responses by extracting the test curves, the ANOVA method was applied, through which it was possible to obtain a behavior equation, a relation of the main effects, and Pareto graphs of each experimental result on the studied parameters. Finally, the multi-objective optimization allowed obtaining printing parameters that allowed improvements in several mechanical properties in addition to the minimization of time and total mass. Results indicated a reduction of 72.39% in the average time of printing and an increase of 9.06% in the mass after the optimization where the mechanical properties were substantially optimized.

Effect of nano clay and PCE on the buildability of ultra-fine dredged sand-based 3D printing materials

The use of ultra-fine dredged sand instead of natural sand in construction 3D printing materials can significantly reduce the cost. However, ultra-fine dredged sand has fine particles and high angular morphology, which can hinder the buildability and continuous printability of construction 3D printing materials. The addition of polycarboxylate superplasticizer (PCE) can effectively solve this problem. Considering that the change of PCE (content of 0, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%) content has a great influence on the printing performance of mortar, in order to make up for this deficiency, nano clay (content of 0,1%) is added to the mortar. The experimental results showed that the addition of nano clay can significantly reduce the negative effects of PCE on the yield stress and apparent viscosity of 3D printing materials (3DPM). When the content of PCE is 0.2%, the addition of 1% NAC could increase the static yield stress and viscosity growth rate of 3DPM by 111.8% and 115.3% respectively. In addition, unconfined compressive strength test, isothermal calorimetry, Mercury invasion porosity method and thermogravimetric analysis were used to characterize the hardening properties of 3DPM. The results of heat of hydration showed that the addition of nano clay reduced the hydration exothermic peak of 3DPM, but increased the total heat release. The results of pore structure analysis showed that the addition of nano clay reduced the macropore (>1000 nm) of 3DPM from 19.31% to 18.82%. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the addition of nano clay increased the hydration products. Therefore, the compressive strength of 3DPM was kept within an acceptable range. Finally, the laboratory’s printing results indicated that the 3DPM can print up to 20 layers continuously.

Bigels as potential inks for extrusion-based 3d food printing: Effect of oleogel fraction on physical characterization and printability

This study aimed to develop, characterize, and evaluate the three-dimensional (3D) printing performance of new food-grade bigels using different printer parameters (nozzle diameter and printing speed) and material properties (hydrogel (HG)/oleogel (OG) ratio). Two types of bigels were prepared by constant homogenization of beeswax OG with agar and xanthan gum (XG) HG (ABs), and the same OG with gelatin and XG HG (GBs) with different OG concentrations (5, 10, and 20% w/w). Bright-field micrographs confirmed the presence of an OG-in-HG system in all bigel formulations. Scanning electron microscopy images showed that particles in the bigels with a higher OG concentration were better distributed and denser networks were formed. The FTIR results suggested that all bigels were formed from a physical mixture of the OG and HG phases. The rheological analyses of both bigels showed that regardless of the OG concentration, they were more solid than liquid (G′ > G″) and exhibited noticeable shear thinning, which allowed the printing of all bigels. However, the ABs with 10 and 20% OG exhibited better printing performances, with less dimensional variability, excellent surface quality, and good reproducibility. The same results were achieved for GBs with an OG concentration of 20%. The texture profile of the components printed using the ABs and GBs was dependent on the printing parameters, and the GBs presented greater values than the ABs. 3D printing of bigels has not been comprehensively studied. This study expands the development of these systems with potential in 3D food printing and generates insights for possible applications and future studies.

Fabrication and characterization of light-curing soybean oil-based epoxy resin applied for LCD additive manufacturing

In this work, we developed a photocurable vegetable oil-based resin with suitable curing properties for use in 3D printing. The acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO), which was synthesized by the catalytic ring-opening reaction of the epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) and acrylic acid (AA), replaced the oligomer in conventional light-curing petroleum-based resins. In order to optimize the various properties of the soybean oil-based epoxy resin, the performance parameters of the resin were analyzed by numerical simulation. It was also combined with the parameters of the printing equipment to better guide the 3D printing process of the resin. The results showed that the esterification rate of acrylic acid (AA) with epoxidized soybean oil (ESO) was higher than that of methacrylic acid (MAA) during the arylation of epoxidized soybean oil (ESO), and AESO had moderate viscosity and was suitable as an oligomer for 3D printing. When the diluent of the oligomer has an ACMO to HDDA ratio of 3:2, the cured parts exhibit the optimum mechanical properties, hydrophobic properties, and thermal stability. All properties of the resins were further improved and giving the formulation the best 3D printing performance when 10% of epoxy resin E44 was added to the soybean oil-based epoxy resin. In addition, the numerical simulations indicate that this soybean oil-based epoxy resin formulation has the highest printing efficiency when the single layer thickness of the cured layer is set to 0.2 mm with the exposure time of 4 s, where the wavelength of UV is 405 nm and the light intensity is 40 W/m2. In conclusion, the light-curing resin developed through the soybean oil-based epoxy resin exhibits excellent performance in all aspects. The optimal printing process was also derived by combining the results obtained from numerical simulations of the resin performance parameters with the device parameters, which significantly improved the efficiency of the 3D printing with the fabricated soybean oil-based epoxy resin, making it has great application potential for the biomedical materials.

Where digital meets physical innovation: Reverse salients and the unrealized dreams of3Dprinting

AbstractFor more than three decades, enthusiasts have predicted that direct manufacturing enabled by 3D printing would inevitably supplant traditional manufacturing methods. Alas, for nearly as long, these utopian predictions have failed to materialize. One reason is a flawed assumption that hybrid digital‐physical systems such as 3D printing would advance as rapidly as purely digital innovations enabled by Moore's law. Instead, like other examples of cyber‐physical systems (CPSs), technological progress in 3D printing faces inherent limitations that are emblematic of the differences between CPSs and purely digital innovations. As with any complex CPS, improved performance of a 3D printing system has been limited by that of its key components—the sort of limiting problem previously defined as a reverse salient. Unlike previously studied technologies, several reverse salients for 3D printing performance have neither resolved nor signs of resolving soon. Here we analyze these key reverse salients, and show how they have hampered the suitability of 3D printing for direct manufacturing and other predicted applications. We contrast predicted versus actual capabilities for 3D printing‐enabled transformation in six key areas: product innovation, mass customization, home fabrication, distributed manufacturing, supply chain optimization and business model innovation. From this, we suggest opportunities for greater realism in future 3D printing research, as well as broader implications for our understanding of CPSs and reverse salients.

Symmetry-based decomposition for optimised parallelisation in 3D printing processes

Current research in 3D printing focuses on improving printing performance through various techniques, including decomposition, but targets only single printers. With improved hardware costs increasing printer availability, more situations can arise involving a multitude of printers, which offers substantially more throughput in combination that may not be best utilised by current decomposition approaches. A novel approach to 3D printing is introduced that attempts to exploit this as a means of significantly increasing the speed of printing models. This was approached as a problem akin to the parallel delegation of computation tasks in a multi-core environment, where optimal performance involves computation load being distributed as evenly as possible. To achieve this, a decomposition framework was designed that combines recursive symmetric slicing with a hybrid tree-based analytical and greedy strategy to optimally minimise the maximum volume of subparts assigned to the set of printers. Experimental evaluation of the algorithm was performed to compare our approach to printing models normally (“in serial”) as a control. The algorithm was subjected to a range of models and a varying quantity of printers in parallel, with printer parameters held constant, and yielded mixed results. Larger, simpler, and more symmetric objects exhibited more significant and reliable improvements in fabrication duration at larger amounts of parallelisation than smaller, more complex, or more asymmetric objects.

Additive manufacturing of zirconia ceramic by fused filament fabrication

Fused filament fabrication (FFF) technology will facilitate the standardization of consumables and printing equipment for the additive manufacturing of engineered ceramics. In this study, a thermoplastic elastic binder based on styrene ethylene butylene styrene (SEBS) was optimized to realize the preparation of flexible filaments with solid loading of 43 vol%. The rheology, stress-strain behavior, and printing performance of the filament were systematically evaluated, and the feasibility of the fabrication of complex-shaped parts was verified. A microstructure model of the filament was innovatively established. The printed parts are suitable for solvent debinding at 40 °C, followed by thermal debinding and sintering to obtain dense zirconia ceramic materials. Microstructural analysis revealed two types of typical defects, interlayer bonding defects with a scale of about 1 μm and triangular voids at path intersections with a scale of about 10 μm. Zirconia ceramics with a relative density of 99.1% and a flexural strength of 492.8 ± 40 MPa was obtained by the FFF method.

3D printing Si3N4-bonded SiC refractories fabricated using colloidal films-containing slurries based on non-spherical SiC and Si powders

Stable slurries for Si3N4-bonded SiC refractories for direct ink writing (DIW) were successfully prepared from a mixture of non-spherical silicon carbide (SiC) and silicon (Si) powders with an average particle size of D50 = 41.98 μm. The rheological properties and printability of slurries prepared using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA; 4–16 wt %) or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC, 0.5–2 wt.%) were investigated with the effect of sintering temperature on the mechanical performance, phase, and microstructure of Si3N4-bonded SiC refractory products. The results indicated that slurries prepared with the HPMC solution showed better printability than those prepared with the PVA solution because colloidal films formed by HPMC in slurries play a role in encasing particles, preventing solid−liquid separation and contributing to plasticity and lubrication, which guarantees the smooth extrusion and homogeneity of slurries. The successful printing of SiC–Si slurries is not only related to proper viscosity, yield value, and shear thinning characteristics but it is also crucial for maintaining the homogeneity of slurries under extrusion pressure. Optimal SiC–Si slurries containing 52 vol % SiC–Si and 1.5 wt% HPMC exhibited proper viscosity, shear thinning, and homogeneity characteristics during printing. The obtained specimens achieved the best printing performance with height and section retention rates of 98.7% and 97.6%, respectively. When sintered at 1450 °C, Si3N4 fibres grow further and reach a diameter of 342.5 nm, the nitriding rate is 92.43%, the fibres tend to form a full network structure, and the mechanical properties of Si3N4-bonded SiC products are the best.

Chelate complexed multi-elemental printing performance of a small and cost efficient picoliter droplet printing device for micro preparation

We introduce an inexpensive modular picoliter pipetting device using modified commercially available thermal inkjet cartridges. The system is capable of reliable deposition of 65 elements. The printing solutions were modified to prevent the dissolution of Ni from the nozzle head, keeping those at a pH of >9. Loss of cations to the glass surfaces inside the nozzle head is prevented by forming anionic complexes with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid in basic conditions. For some elements, e.g., Si, additives like tetramethylammonium hydroxide are necessary.The volumes of the droplets were obtained, weighing 30,000–360,000 droplets ejected by the printer using a laboratory scale. The droplet volume was within a range of 142–184 pL, depending on the formulation. The delivered elemental masses and the reproducibility were determined using total reflection X-ray fluorescence analysis and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. Delivered masses were in the range of 0.98 pg – 11.9 pg per element and droplet.The shape of deposits of about 31 pg per element was studied using atomic force microscopy, optical microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy. They were mostly spherical and ca. 14 μm in diameter and ca. 2 μm in height. The broad range of printable elements allows for the micro preparation of solid compounds for establishing a grazing incidence X-ray diffraction analysis library. As an example, the MgAl2O4 spinel was synthesized by printing of the formulation and subsequent calcination. Here we show its performance for the preparation of minerals in the context of recycling of critical elements from pyrometallurgical slags.

A dual-cure approach for the ultraviolet-assisted material extrusion of highly loaded opaque suspensions

Ultraviolet-Assisted Material Extrusion (UV-MEX) is an additive manufacturing (AM) technology in which a viscous ink, is selectively extruded and solidified via in-situ UV irradiation (photocuring) in a layer-by-layer fashion to create three-dimensional parts. UV-MEX is an attractive AM technology due to its ability to (i) extrude highly viscous inks that are not processable via other photo-enabled AM technologies, (ii) leverage the broad photopolymer material library and chemistries established for other photo-enabled AM technologies and (iii) process a wide range of loaded inks to enable fabrication of metal, ceramic, polymer, bio-based, and multi-material parts. UV-MEX is well positioned to process highly loaded and highly viscous photocurable inks, a class of materials that cannot be processed by other AM modalities due to their process-induced viscosity constraints. However, opaque particles in the highly loaded systems may absorb and scatter UV irradiation, which will hinder final part properties due to limited cure depth and degree of conversion of the photopolymer matrix. To enable the robust UV-MEX printing of highly loaded inks containing opaque fillers, this work introduces a framework for formulating and characterizing resins that are both photo (UV irradiation) and thermally (heat) curable. This dual-cure strategy is enabled by the facile addition of free radical photo- and thermal initiators into acrylate-based resins. The resin’s responsiveness to UV irradiation enables rapid solidification and stiffening of the resin to reduce the spreading and slumping of the extruded bead. However, due to the absorption of the UV irradiation by the opaque fillers, only a thin cured skin (20-100um) is formed on the surface of the extruded bead. Thus, the secondary thermal cure is used to fully cure the ink and develop the final properties of the printed part. Heating during the printing process is shown to provide in-situ thermal curing of the deposited ink, which further strengthens the deposited material and enables the printing of tall structures. In this work, the dual-cure ink formulation strategy is assessed for its ability to enable the printing of dimensionally stable and high-aspect ratio parts from inks highly loaded with opaque solids. A methodology for characterizing the curing of the highly loaded inks using rheological and differential scanning calorimetry experiments is presented, along with a framework for assessing their printing performance in UV-MEX. The dual-cure ink concept and screening methodology is demonstrated on a dual-cure urethane acrylate ink loaded with 60 vol% aluminum particles.

Clean printing of cotton fabrics using novel environmental‐friendly phthalocyanine‐monoazo reactive dyes

AbstractApplication of reactive dyes with low fixation in textile coloring field has caused discharges of colored wastewater and waste of resources. In this work, to reduce the discharge and improve the utilization, three novel reactive dyes (D1, D2, D3) with high reactivity based on copper phthalocyanine‐azo skeleton were designed and synthesized, and the structures were characterized by UV–vis, FT‐IR, and 1H NMR. All these dyes had large molar extinction coefficients, and they presented violet, brown, and dark‐violet colors. The printing performances on cotton fabrics of the dyes were investigated. Results show that the printing properties of the dyes on fabrics were not obviously affected by alkaline concentration, urea concentration, and steaming time. In addition, the printing process leaded to colorless wastewater, and the fixations on cotton fabrics of D1, D2, and D3 were all close to 100%, illustrating high utilization of the novel dyes. The design and application of this kind of reactive dye could provide a significant approach for reducing the discharge of colored wastewater and saving energy.

Plasma Technique for Modification of The Natural Thickener to Improvie Textile Printing Performance

Plasma Technique for Modification of The Natural Thickener to Improvie Textile Printing Performance