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Recent Progress in Biomimetic Additive Manufacturing Technology: From Materials to Functional Structures
Journal article   Peer reviewed

Recent Progress in Biomimetic Additive Manufacturing Technology: From Materials to Functional Structures

Yang Yang, Xuan Song, Xiangjia Li, Zeyu Chen, Chi Zhou, Qifa Zhou and Yong Chen
Advanced materials (Weinheim), Vol.30(36), pp.1-n/a
09/06/2018
DOI: 10.1002/adma.201706539
PMID: 29920790

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Abstract

Nature has developed high‐performance materials and structures over millions of years of evolution and provides valuable sources of inspiration for the design of next‐generation structural materials, given the variety of excellent mechanical, hydrodynamic, optical, and electrical properties. Biomimicry, by learning from nature's concepts and design principles, is driving a paradigm shift in modern materials science and technology. However, the complicated structural architectures in nature far exceed the capability of traditional design and fabrication technologies, which hinders the progress of biomimetic study and its usage in engineering systems. Additive manufacturing (three‐dimensional (3D) printing) has created new opportunities for manipulating and mimicking the intrinsically multiscale, multimaterial, and multifunctional structures in nature. Here, an overview of recent developments in 3D printing of biomimetic reinforced mechanics, shape changing, and hydrodynamic structures, as well as optical and electrical devices is provided. The inspirations are from various creatures such as nacre, lobster claw, pine cone, flowers, octopus, butterfly wing, fly eye, etc., and various 3D‐printing technologies are discussed. Future opportunities for the development of biomimetic 3D‐printing technology to fabricate next‐generation functional materials and structures in mechanical, electrical, optical, and biomedical engineering are also outlined. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) has created new opportunities for manipulating and mimicking the intrinsically multiscale and multifunctional structures in nature. An overview of recent developments in 3D printing of biomimetic reinforced mechanical, shape‐changing, hydrodynamic structures and optical and electrical devices is provided, and future opportunities for the development of next‐generation functional materials and structures by biomimetic 3D‐printing technology is outlined.
3D printing bioinspired mechanics reinforced structure bioinspired optics bioinspired shape‐changing structures wearable sensors

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