About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Biosustainable Materials for a Circular Economy
|
| Presentation Title |
Hybrid Biogenic/Additive Manufacturing of Multi-Functional Ceramics with Eight Levels of Structural Hierarchy |
| Author(s) |
Hannes C. Schniepp, Aidan Lucas |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Hannes C. Schniepp |
| Abstract Scope |
The outstanding performance and multi-functionality of many biogenic materials is tightly interrelated to their hierarchical structures, with sizes ranging from molecular to macroscopic scales. Replicating such sophisticated structures requires manufacturing breakthroughs, since available methods neither have the resolution to reach low-nanometer scales, nor the speed to make macroscopic specimens at these resolutions. We grow macroscopic amounts of diatoms, algal micro-organisms featuring exoskeletons made from biosilica, called frustules. These frustules are several micrometers large and hierarchically structured, with their finest features as small as a few nanometers. We developed techniques to harvest diatom frustules in gram amounts and purify them to make 3D-printable inks. This approach allowed us to produce materials with eight levels of structural hierarchy, covering length scales from nanometers to centimeters. Our materials feature high specific strength, high thermal resistance and low thermal conductivity. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Additive Manufacturing, Mechanical Properties, Sustainability |