The impact of knowledge competences on business performance: Moderation effect of 3D printing implementation

3D Printing allows companies to have full-control over production processes, resulting in overall business performance improvements. However, this relationship closely correlated with knowledge management competences (KMCs), which are associated with project complexity. This research explores a three-way moderation effect among 3D printing implementation, KMCs, project complexity, and business performance

Additive manufacturing of heat-sensitive polymer melt using a pallet-fed material extrusion

The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link

Synergistic effects of hybrid conductive nanofillers on the performance of 3D printed highly elastic strain sensors

In this work, thermoplastic polyurethane based conductive polymer composites containing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and synthesized silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were used to fabricate highly elastic strain sensors via fused deposition modeling. The printability of the materials was improved with the introduction of the nanofillers, and the size and content of the AgNPs significantly influenced the sensing performance of the 3D printed sensors. When the CNTs:AgNPs weight ratio was 5:1, the sensors exhibited outstanding performance with high sensitivity (GF = 43260 at 250% strain), high linearity (R 2 = 0.97 within 50% strain), fast response (~57 ms), and excellent repeatability (1000 cycles) due to synergistic effects. A modeling study based on the Simmons' tunneling theory was also undertaken to analyze the sensing mechanism. The sensor was applied to monitor diverse joint movements and facial motion, showing its potential for application in intelligent robots, prosthetics, and wear-able devices where customizability are usually demanded

An Imidazolium-Based Supramolecular Gelator Enhancing Interlayer Adhesion in 3D Printed Dual Network Hydrogels

The variety of UV-curable monomers for 3D printing is limited by a requirement for rapid curing aftereach sweep depositing a layer. This study proposes to trigger supramolecular self-assembly during theprocess by a gemini imidazolium-based low-molecular-weight gelator, allowing printing of certainmonomers. The as-printed hydrogel structures were supported by a gelator network immobilising monomer:water solutions. A thixotropic hydrogel was formed with a recovery time of 8.1 kPa and yield stress = 18 Pa, processable using material extrusion 3D printing. Material extrusion 3Dprinted objects are usually highly anisotropic, but in this case the gelator network improved the isotropyby subverting the usual layer-by-layer curing strategy. The monomer in all printed layers was curedsimultaneously during post-processing to form a continuous polymeric network. The two networks thenphysically interpenetrate to enhance mechanical performance. The double network hydrogels fabricatedwith layers cured simultaneously showed 62–147% increases in tensile properties compared to layer-bylayercured hydrogels. The results demonstrated excellent inter- and intra-layered coalescence.</p

Challenges in the Technology Development for Additive Manufacturing in Space

Instead of foreseeing and preparing for all possible scenarios of machine failures, accidents, and other challenges arising in space missions, it appears logical to take advantage of the flexibility of additive manufacturing for “in-space manufacturing” (ISM). Manned missions into space rely on complicated equipment, and their safe operation is a great challenge. Bearing in mind the absolute distance for manned missions to the Moon and Mars, the supply of spare parts for the repair and replacement of lost equipment via shipment from Earth would require too much time. With the high flexibility in design and the ability to manufacture ready-to-use components directly from a computer-aided model, additive manufacturing technologies appear to be extremely attractive in this context. Moreover, appropriate technologies are required for the manufacture of building habitats for extended stays of astronauts on the Moon and Mars, as well as material/feedstock. The capacities for sending equipment and material into space are not only very limited and costly, but also raise concerns regarding environmental issues on Earth. Accordingly, not all materials can be sent from Earth, and strategies for the use of in-situ resources, i.e., in-situ resource utilization (ISRU), are being envisioned. For the manufacturing of both complex parts and equipment, as well as for large infrastructure, appropriate technologies for material processing in space need to be developed

Bespoke 3D-Printed Polydrug Implants Created via Microstructural Control of Oligomers

Controlling the microstructure of materials by means of phase separation is a versatile tool for optimizing material properties. Phase separation has been exploited to fabricate intricate microstructures in many fields including cell biology, tissue engineering, optics, and electronics. The aim of this study was to use phase separation to tailor the spatial location of drugs and thereby generate release profiles of drug payload over periods ranging from 1 week to months by exploiting different mechanisms: polymer degradation, polymer diluent dissolution, and control of microstructure. To achieve this, we used drop-on-demand inkjet three-dimensional (3D) printing. We predicted the microstructure resulting from phase separation using high-throughput screening combined with a model based on the Flory-Huggins interaction parameter and were able to show that drug release from 3D-printed objects can be predicted from observations based on single drops of mixtures. We demonstrated for the first time that inkjet 3D printing yields controllable phase separation using picoliter droplets of blended photoreactive oligomers/monomers. This new understanding gives us hierarchical compositional control, from droplet to device, allowing release to be "dialled up"without manipulation of device geometry. We exemplify this approach by fabricating a biodegradable, long-term, multiactive drug delivery subdermal implant ("polyimplant") for combination therapy and personalized treatment of coronary heart disease. This is an important advance for implants that need to be delivered by cannula, where the shape is highly constrained and thus the usual geometrical freedoms associated with 3D printing cannot be easily exploited, which brings a hitherto unseen level of understanding to emergent material properties of 3D printing

Correction to “Bespoke 3D-Printed Polydrug Implants Created via Microstructural Control of Oligomers”

The chemical structure of the drug trandolapril has been corrected in Figure 4c. The conclusions of the work have not been affected by this correction. (Figure present)