3D Printing using Cellulose Nanoparticles

Abstract

Cellulose is naturally available and most abundant biopolymer on earth. It is one of the main constituents of cellulosic materials, such as wood, plant fibres (flax, hemp, jute), among others. Due to their high surface properties and high aspect ratio, excellent mechanical properties, cellulose is extensively used in composite reinforcements. Cellulous nanoparticles (CNP) can be utilised in developing cellulose nanocomposites with enhanced mechanical and thermal properties for various applications: biomedical and other engineering applications. Three-dimensional (3D) printing also known as additive manufacturing (AM) is an emerging advanced manufacturing process widely used in key industry sectors including, but are not limited, to automotive, aerospace, electronics, construction and biomedical fields, owing to their several attractive attributes in comparison with conventional or subtracting manufacturing technology. In recent years, this technology has been explored in fibre reinforced polymeric composites, such as cellulose composites and nanocomposites. This chapter aims at investigating 3D printing as a viable fabrication method for cellulose nanoparticles incorporated nanocomposites and comparing their important mechanical properties with respect to key 3D printing factors and process parameters, including CNPs properties and morphologies.