About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
MS&T26: Materials Science & Technology
|
| Symposium
|
3D Printing of Biomaterials and Devices
|
| Presentation Title |
Robocasting of a Water-Based Biopolymer/Ammonium Metatungstate Paste as a Precursor to Tungsten Carbide Lattices |
| Author(s) |
Manasi Milind Shah, Sanketh Gombi, Rodrigo Martinez-Duarte |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Manasi Milind Shah |
| Abstract Scope |
This work presents an approach to fabricating porous tungsten carbide (WC) structures using robocasting with a water‑based, additive‑free biopolymer ink formulated from fully water‑soluble ammonium metatungstate (AMT). AMT enables molecular‑level precursor dispersion, allowing direct evaluation of how solubility influences print fidelity, surface morphology, and structural evolution. Complex 3D lattices are printed and converted to WC through controlled drying, dehydration, and carbonization. Shrinkage and surface‑roughness evolution are quantified across processing stages to reveal how AMT‑derived networks guide densification pathways and surface formation. Microstructural analysis captures the transition from a water based paste to porous WC frameworks. Electromechanical characterization using a diagonal two‑point configuration measures conductivity under compression and identifies deformation‑induced changes in current pathways. Together, these results establish soluble‑precursor robocasting as a tunable route for architected WC structures and provide mechanistic insight into how precursor chemistry governs roughness, porosity, and multifunctional performance relevant to energy and catalytic applications. |