Now, chemical engineers have actually extended the centuries-old practice to produce complex shapes made of glass or other tough materials. Usually, glass and ceramics are shaped in a mold or are 3D printed in the desired last structure. Intricate glass styles (left) can be made with origami and cutting methods, which can be integrated with 3D printing to make more complex shapes, such as a 3D lattice (right). Next, Xu cut, folded, twisted, and pulled on sheets of this translucent polymer composite, which has mechanical residential or commercial properties similar to paper, to make a crane, a feather, a lacy vase and a sphere made of linked ribbons, among other things. We report a method that permits making three dimensional transparent glass with origami strategies.
In earlier work, the researchers used origami and the associated technique of kirigami– which integrates cutting with folding– to shape soft products made of polymers. “But we wanted to extend these methods to glass and ceramics, which are much harder to process into intricate shapes than polymers,” says Tao Xie, Ph.D., the projects principal private investigator.
Generally, glass and ceramics are formed in a mold or are 3D printed in the preferred last structure. But a mold cant produce a complex shape, Xie says. And although 3D printing can do so, its slow, and a things can be flimsy and require additional support while its being made. In addition, the printed product typically has a layered texture that might not be the perfect look. The group set out to see if they could conquer these drawbacks.
Yang Xu, a college student who works in Xies laboratory at Zhejiang University, designed a technique in which she blended nanoparticles of silica– the primary active ingredient for making glass– into a liquid including numerous substances. Treating the mixture with ultraviolet light produced a cross-linked polycaprolactone polymer with tiny beads of silica suspended in it, like raisins in raisin bread.
Elaborate glass designs (left) can be made with origami and cutting methods, which can be integrated with 3D printing to make more complex shapes, such as a 3D lattice (right). Scale bar 1 cm. Credit: Yang Xu
Next, Xu cut, folded, twisted, and pulled on sheets of this clear polymer composite, which has mechanical residential or commercial properties similar to paper, to make a crane, a feather, a lacy vase and a sphere made of intertwined ribbons, among other objects. The composite maintained its brand-new shape fairly well throughout the remaining production steps if she did this at room temperature. Due to the fact that the folding and extending procedure irreversibly interrupts the interface between some of the silica particles and the polymer matrix, Xu discovered thats. However if its critical to completely keep the new shape throughout the subsequent steps, Xu found that the composite must be heated at about 265 F when it is folded and extended. That completely rearranges the links in between the polymer chains, firmly repairing the new shape in place.
After cooling, a third heating action, understood as sintering, melts the silica particles together at temperature levels topping 2,300 F to convert the things into clear glass with a smooth, non-layered texture. Consisting of more polymer in the mix made the items easier to fold however decreased their final openness, discusses Xu, who is providing the work at the meeting.
In her latest work, Xu is extending the approach beyond glass to ceramics, changing the silica with compounds such as zirconium dioxide and titanium dioxide. Whereas glass is breakable and inert, these substances open up the possibility of producing “functional” things, such as materials that are less fragile than glass or that have catalytic homes.
The group is also explore a mix of kirigami and 3D printing to make even more intricate shapes. “When you fold a piece of paper, the level of complexity is somewhat limited, and 3D printing is sort of slow,” Xie states. “So we wanted to see if we could integrate these 2 techniques to make the most of their appealing qualities. That would give us the liberty to make nearly any shaped part.”
In the catalyst field, Xie notes, people use 3D printing to make ceramic structures perforated with microscopic channels, which increase a drivers exposed area. Xus approach might enable more detailed styles for such applications, and as a test case, she has printed a pierced 3D lattice made of the silica-polymer composite (red structure in accompanying image).
Xu keeps in mind that her process could be automated for large-scale manufacturing. She and Xie hope the ceramics and artistic neighborhoods will find out about the work and apply it in catalyst and sculpture design, as well as other functions the researchers havent even thought of.
The scientists acknowledge assistance and funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China.
Fulfilling: ACS Spring 2023
TitleTransparent origami glass
Glass is essential in numerous applications, however its processing alternatives are restricted by its breakable nature and the requirement to accomplish optical openness. We report a technique that permits making three dimensional transparent glass with origami strategies. Our approach broadens the scope of glass shaping and possibly opens up its utilities in untouched territories.
Complex glass styles can be made with origami and cutting methods. Credit: Yang Xu
Chemical engineers have innovated on the ancient art of origami, establishing a modern-day technique to create detailed 3D shapes from glass or other difficult products. This technique, which can be integrated with 3D printing, has potential applications in different fields, consisting of sculpture and catalysis.
The ancient art of origami is popular for transforming sheets of paper and other collapsible materials into intricate 3D shapes. Now, chemical engineers have actually extended the centuries-old practice to produce elaborate shapes made of glass or other hard materials. Their thoroughly modern-day approach, which can be integrated with 3D printing, might have applications ranging from sculpture to catalysis and beyond.
The scientists will provide their results today at the spring meeting of the American Chemical Society (ACS). ACS Spring 2023 is a hybrid conference being held essentially and in-person March 26– 30, and features more than 10,000 discussions on a large range of science subjects.