This award supports fundamental research on processing-structure-property relationships of conductive inks for 3D printing of metals at or near room temperature. The basis for this work is the recent discovery and demonstration that liquid metals can be printed into free-standing structures that are stabilized mechanically by a surface oxide. The research will focus on new conductive inks that can be dispensed at modest temperatures but solidify into solid, mechanically robust metallic structures after the structures are printed. The research team will study the formulation, dispensing, and solidification of these inks using a number of characterization techniques to elucidate the solidification process.
The research results will provide the knowledge and understanding necessary to meet a critical need to develop metallic components for additive manufacturing (3D printing). Additive manufacturing enables users to directly design, prototype, and print objects on demand. It is considered a transformative technology that is championed by President Obama to help keep America competitive in the manufacturing sector. Although metals are important materials for electronics, optics, and structural materials, current technologies to 3D print metals are expensive and rely on high temperatures. The research will enable for the first time 3D printing of metals at or near room temperature. In addition to supporting a graduate student, the project will involve undergraduate researchers recruited from a diverse group of engineering students at North Carolina State (NC State). The research team will partner with the NC State Hunt Library and the NC State Laboratory for Additive Manufacturing and Logistics to contribute to a number of integrated outreach activities designed to expose a broader audience to the science and technology of 3D printing.
