Impressão 3D por extrusão de amido gelatinizado e farinha de madeira

Abstract

This project aims to produce an ink printable by 3D printing using extrusion-based technology and containing wood flour. This material is the most important raw material used to create suitable substrates for mycelium growth. Gelatinized starch is used to make wood flour printable, allowing the utilization of 3D printing technology for obtaining biocomposite materials. The paste developed for this purpose consists of starch, deionized water, and wood flour. Three different compositions were then printed using different equipment to conduct trajectory tests and evaluate a model for viscous paste, which is available in a commercial 3D printer. Viscosity tests were conducted using a Brookfield DVIII Viscometer, revealing pseudoplastic and thixotropic behavior in the samples. Finally, compression tests were performed to estimate the torque required for extruding the viscous paste and determine the theoretical maximum number of printed layers for a given cross-section. The torque required for printing was measured at 0.213 N.m, indicating that the printing mass can be easily extruded.