As ORNL explained, ORNL added chopped bamboo fibers to a bio-polymer resin to create bamboo-based pellets, resulting in a sustainable material that can be used for manufacturing molds, prototypes, appliances and furniture. ORNL mixed the natural material with polylactic acid (PLA) in different ratios and then testing its properties.
The scientists behind the project found that a material with 10 percent bamboo content exhibited a higher elastic modulus (stiffness) than “neat PLA,” while a material with 20 percent bamboo content produced an even higher modulus.
As 3ders.org says, 3D printing and bamboo have been used in conjunction before, but ORNL’s application is the first known example of actually feeding bamboo through a 3D printer. Last year, Edmond Wong and Stratasys teamed up to create this 3D printed bamboo stool, while London-based Bamboo Bicycle Club has also used additive manufacturing technology to make bamboo-framed bikes.
