Selective Laser Sintering Technology based 3D Printer for Additive Manufacturing of Bioplastic-based Complex Shaped Products

该项目寻求支持收购基于选择性激光烧结（SLS）技术的三维（3D）打印机，这是圭尔夫大学新的环保聚合物和生物基材料研究的一项苛刻技术和基础研究工具。拟议设备的主要目标是从可持续生物质材料中打印复杂形状的生物塑料产品，并了解打印产品的基本特性和性能，以检查其在生物医学，电子，包装和汽车等各种应用中的可行性，这可以为创造新型材料打开新的大门。这种基于粉末的增材制造是一种一步加工技术，用于制造复杂形状的产品，而不会影响材料的分子量和热降解等分析性能，这在基于粉末的3D打印或其他传统注塑成型等两步加工技术中根本不可能。在所要求的粉末3D打印机中，聚合物粉末被加热到熔点以下，激光将有助于绘制所需产品的形状。在这种情况下，剩余的粉末可以进一步重复使用，以生产更多的样品，而不会改变性能。该设备将为30多名在生物聚合物和生物材料领域工作的研究生、本科生和博士后研究人员提供机会。然而，这一工具的更广泛的协同影响将通过其用于跨学科研究、HQP（高素质人员）培训、暑期实习生培训和鼓励新用户来实现。为了使加拿大经济在全球范围内具有竞争力，需要探索新的环保材料的机会，这些材料可以减少对石油化工产品的依赖，并为创建更绿色的制造业提供可再生资源材料的坚实基础。该项目旨在了解印刷可持续生物聚合物和生物复合材料的特性和性能。总的来说，拟议中的3D打印机将极大地帮助研究人员通过生物材料的新发现和创新为社会用途找到解决方案。

This project seeks support for the acquisition of a Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) Technology based three-dimensional (3D) Printer, which is a demanding technology and fundamental research tool for new eco-friendly polymers and biobased materials research at the University of Guelph. The main goal of the proposed equipment is to print complex shaped bioplastic products from sustainable biomass materials and to understand the fundamental properties and performance of the printed products in order to check their viability in various applications such as biomedical, electronics, packaging and automotive, which can open up new doors to create novel materials. This powder-based additive manufacturing is a one step processing technique used to manufacture complex shaped products without compromising the analytical properties such as molecular weight and thermal degradation of the materials, which is not at all possible in two step processing techniques like filament-based 3D printing or other conventional injection moulding. In the requested powder-based 3D printer, the polymer powder is heated below its melting point and the laser will help to draw the shape of the desired products. In such case, the remaining powder can be reused further to produce more specimens without altering the properties. The equipment will provide opportunities for over 30 graduate students, undergraduate students, and post-doctoral researchers working in the area of biopolymers and biomaterials. However, the broader synergistic impact of this instrument will be realized by its use for interdisciplinary research, HQP (highly qualified personnel) training, training of summer interns, and encouragement of new users. For the Canadian economy to be competitive globally, the opportunities in new eco-friendly materials need to be explored that can reduce reliance on petro-chemicals and would provide a strong foundation in renewable resource-based materials for creating a greener manufacturing sector. This project is uniquely targeted to understand the properties and performance of the printed sustainable biopolymers and biocomposites. Overall, the proposed 3D printer will tremendously aid researchers in finding solutions through new discoveries and innovations in biomaterials for societal uses.