World 1st - 4D Printing of Ceramics
Hong Kong Research Has Big Applications - Telecom, Electronics, Aerospace 4D Printed Origami of The Sydney Opera House by CU of Hong Kong Researchers at the City University of Hong Kong have just achieved a first. They're able to 4D print ceramics in large sizes with high strength and mechanical robustness. This tech may have very significant use in telecom, electronics and aerospace. Ceramic Ink The scientists developed a unique "ceramic ink". It's a mix of polymers and ceramic nanoparticles. They 3D printed with it and the objects created -"ceramic precursors" - are soft and can be stretched 3 times their shape and size. 4D Reconfiguration Being flexible and stretchable allows for complex shapes such as origami folding. The structures are also mechanically robust and strong. With heat treatment, they reconfigure into ceramics with complex shapes, making them 4D ceramics, like the (above) image of their Sydney Opera House. The rese...