3DPrinting.com reports that scientists are utilizing a low-temperature UV light technique to 3D print glass.

A team of researchers from the Georgia Institute of Technology has made a groundbreaking discovery in the world of 3D printing. They have developed a method that allows for the production of silica glass microstructures at low temperatures, using deep ultraviolet (DUV) light.

Traditional techniques for 3D printing glass require high temperatures and extended durations, which consume significant resources. However, this new method bypasses these limitations by utilizing a photosensitive resin called polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) as the ink. The PDMS is shaped using a process called two-photon polymerization, and then it is converted into silica glass using a DUV lamp in an ozone setting.

Chemical tests have confirmed the successful conversion of PDMS to silica glass, which exhibits high transparency and a smooth surface similar to commercial fused silica glass. What’s more, the entire process operates at a moderate temperature of 220 °C and can be completed in less than five hours. While this temperature may still be relatively high for a human to touch, it is much lower than the temperatures typically required for traditional glass manufacturing.

This low-temperature method has significant implications for the microelectronics industry, as it allows for the fabrication of glass structures without the need for extremely high temperatures. Conventional 3D printing of glass requires temperatures above 1100 °C and can take days to complete. In contrast, the DUV-ozone treatment-based method offers numerous advantages, including energy efficiency and the elimination of issues related to silica nanoparticles.

Currently, the approach is capable of producing glass structures that are sized between 200 to 300 μm. However, the research team is actively working on scaling up the process to create millimeter-sized structures. Professor H. Jerry Qi, one of the researchers involved in the project, emphasized the importance of this breakthrough, highlighting the team’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of fabrication technology.

The swift and energy-efficient nature of this methodology suggests that it could have a profound impact on 3D printing processes not only for glass but also for ceramics. This has the potential to revolutionize various industries, including electronics, medical, and microfluidics.

If you’re interested in learning more about this groundbreaking research, you can access the full paper titled “Low-temperature 3D printing of transparent silica glass microstructures” in the Science Advances journal.

Overall, this discovery opens up exciting possibilities for the future of additive manufacturing and underscores the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible. We would love to hear your thoughts on this breakthrough, so make sure to visit our Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn pages and join the discussion. And don’t forget to sign up for our weekly additive manufacturing newsletter to stay updated with all the latest stories in the field.

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