Continuous 3D Printing of Hierarchically Structured Microfoamed Objects

We report the design and results of a novel process combining 3D printing foaming to produce microfoamed polymeric structures, from simple strands more complex architectures, using physical blowing agents. Foaming processes are extensively operated in cellular materials industry pores, yet without spatial control their positioning. This intrinsic stochasticity may introduce imperfections, which reduce mechanical properties material, thus regular (e.g., periodic) porous structures would be desirable. allows fabricate with empty spaces well-defined periodic structure. To this end, very expensive printers required achieve micron-resolution pores. Correspondingly, production time is dramatically large becomes bottleneck industrial scale-up. Herein, an innovative technique simplicity polymer precision presented. The resulting have advantages both techniques: they micron-controlled cell structure can printed at reasonable costs time. proposed approach validated bio-based compostable polymer, namely, polylactic acid (PLA). foamed hierarchical terms morphology show controlled local porosity superior properties.