Recent Advances in Cryogenic 3D Printing Technologies

Abstract

Cryogenic 3D printing, or freeze 3D printing, is an additive manufacturing process that prints an object at “low” temperature atmosphere. It uses a temperature lower than the melting point of the printing material (commonly a water‐based suspension or slurry) to solidify the layered part. Cryogenic 3D printing compasses several different processes including ice 3D printing, freeze from extrusion, freeze nano‐printing (FNP), etc. However, no systematic survey of these technologies is present. In the current review, various 3D printing technologies that use low temperature to solidify the layer are reviewed. The technical aspects such as path planning, heat transfer, and diffusion in multi‐material are investigated. The applications of cryogenic 3D printing are presented including the investment casting, ice sculpture, and microfluidic channel from original ice 3D printing, and functional porous materials from the emerging FNP and low‐temperature deposition. Overall, this article gives a summary of cryogenic 3D printing technologies, including a survey on its technical aspects and potential applications for future research and development.

Freeze‐Casting of Arbitrary‐Shaped Porous Ceramics

“…The solid loadings of the ceramic suspension are prepared in 10 vol%, 20 vol%, and 30 vol%, respectively, which are well be suitable for freeze‐casting purpose. [ 45 ] The shear thinning behaviors of the aqueous slurries are shown in Figure . It can be seen from the figure that, 20 vol% and 30 vol% alumina slurries have a higher viscosity than 10 vol% one.…”

“…[ 42–44 ] However, the current 3D printing‐based synergetic freeze‐casting process is plagued by the limited resolution and efficiency. [ 4 ] And it should be noted that using cryogenic 3D printing is only able to freeze‐cast a shaped model at quenching‐based mode, [ 45 ] which may cause randomly oriented channels and lamellae over the cross section parallel to the ice front. [ 22 ] Wang et al prepared Teflon mold with characters to develop an all‐freeze‐casted supercapacitor.…”

“…[42][43][44] However, the current 3D printing-based synergetic freeze-casting process is plagued by the limited resolution and efficiency. [4] And it should be noted that using cryogenic 3D printing is only able to freeze-cast a shaped model at quenching-based mode, [45] DOI: 10.1002/adem.202301984…”

The Effect of Nozzle Temperature on the Low-Temperature Printing Performance of Low-Viscosity Food Ink

“…In a typical printing process, the ink needs to be melted at the right temperature to be extruded through the nozzle. The temperature is raised by a heating device on the barrel wall, and the forming environment temperature is reduced via air cooling, water cooling or a cooling environment covering the entire printer [15][16][17]. The cylinder has a certain diameter, and the heat transfer is carried out through the cylinder and the nozzle in contact with the cooling environment.…”

Applicability of UV-Curable Binders in High Solid Suspensions for Direct-Ink-Write 3D Printing in Extremely Cold Temperatures

“…While a great focus has been dedicated to binder formulation design to provide the most optimal printing conditions for the suspensions, − recent progress in space exploration efforts has triggered the need for more high-performing materials and for the applicability of 3D printing methods in isolated and demanding environments such as the Lunar surface. − Now, not only must binder formulations be designed to optimally process various kinds of solid materials, but they must also be tailored for printing conditions including microgravity, vacuum, thermal extremes, solar and cosmic radiation, as well as dust storms and charging. − Experiments conducted on the International Space Station by Made In Space, Inc. demonstrated the first success of 3D printing in microgravity by fused filament fabrication (FFF) . For DIW, the technique was used in microgravity by Li et al to deposit droplets of a very dilute colloidal suspension and through Techshot’s BioFabrication Facility on the International Space Station, and work by Leu and co-workers demonstrated a very good use case of DIW in cold temperatures with freeze-form extrusion fabrication (FEF). , Since then, other demonstrations of FEF in cold temperatures have been employed for a variety of formulations, including some with high solid loadings, with subzero temperatures applied to either the print bed, the ambient atmosphere, or both. − …”