Additive Manufacturing of 3D Aerogels and Porous Scaffolds: A Review |
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Authors: | Halil Tetik Ying Wang Xiao Sun Daxian Cao Nasrullah Shah Hongli Zhu Fang Qian Dong Lin |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506 USA;2. Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Ave, Boston, MA, 02115 USA;3. Department of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 66506 USA Department of Chemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 23200 Pakistan;4. Physical and Life Science Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA, 94550 USA |
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Abstract: | Aerogels are highly porous structures produced by replacing the liquid solvent of a gel with air without causing a collapse in the solid network. Unlike conventional fabrication methods, additive manufacturing (AM) has been applied to fabricate 3D aerogels with customized geometries specific to their applications, designed pore morphologies, multimaterial structures, etc. To date, three major AM technologies (extrusion, inkjet, and stereolithography) followed by a drying process have been proposed to additively manufacture 3D functional aerogels. 3D-printed aerogels and porous scaffolds showed great promise for a variety of applications, including tissue engineering, electrochemical energy storage, controlled drug delivery, sensing, and soft robotics. In this review, the details of steps included in the AM of aerogels and porous scaffolds are discussed, and a general frame is provided for AM of those. Then, the different postprinting processes are addressed to achieve the porosity (after drying); and mechanical strength, functionality, or both (after postdrying thermal or chemical treatments) are provided. Furthermore, the applications of the 3D-printed aerogels/porous scaffolds made from a variety of materials are also highlighted. The review is concluded with the current challenges and an outlook for the next generation of 3D-printed aerogels and porous scaffolds. |
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Keywords: | 3D-printed aerogels additive manufacturing technology aerogel applications |
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