3D Printing Iron ink

DescriptionThis research grade (not for human use) metallic iron 3D-printing ink can be used for printing using a direct extrusion (pneumatic or mechanical) 3D-printer into multi-layered, three-dimensional objects at room temperature. This ink should only be used in a well-ventilated environment. The extruded material rapidly solidifies and allows creation of complex, user-designed forms. Despite being mostly iron, the printed solid material is flexible (may even have limited elastic properties) and it exhibits high conductive even without post-printing curing or sintering (although the 3D-printed iron can be optionally sintered at 900 °C in non-oxidative environment to produce dense metallic 3D-printed parts). The solids loading of the as-dried material is 70 vol.%iron, 30 vol.%PLGA. This iron ink can be utilized to create three-dimensional, magnetic structures on their own, orco-3D-printed with other 3D-printing inks to create multi-material structures. The ink may also be mixed with other 3D-printing inks to compound them prior to utilization. Due to the mechanical flexibility of the material after drying, complex 2D and 3D forms can be created. This ink may also be utilized in non-3D-printing applications such as coating (dip-coating or direct painting), thread fabrication, or casting into molds.Our metallic iron 3D-printing ink is comprised of iron particles (1-10 μm) suspended in a mixture of organic solvents containing a dissolved, high molecular weight elastomeric, biocompatible polyester (polylactic-co-glycolic acid; PLGA). Prior to further use, to remove residual solvents after 3D-printing (or other application such as coating, direct painting etc.) the iron composite material should be washed in 70% ethanol and then by water.