3D bioprinting of complex biological structures with tunable elastic modulus and porosity using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels

Three-dimensional(3D)bioprinting has been used widely for the construction of hard tissues such as bone and cartilage.However,constructing soft tissues with complex structures remains a challenge.In this study,complex structures characterized by both tunable elastic modulus and porosity were printed using freeform reversible embedding of suspended hydrogels(FRESHs)printing methods.A mixture of alginate and gelatin was used as the main functional component of the bioink.Rheological analysis showed that this bioink possesses shear thinning and shear recovery properties,supporting both cryogenic and FRESH printing methods.Potential printing capabilities and limitations of cryogenic and FRESH printing were then analyzed by printability tests.A series of complex structures were printed by FRESH printing methods which could not be realized using conventional approaches.Mechanical tests and scanning electron microscopy analysis showed that the printed structure is of excellent flexibility and could be applied in various conditions by adjusting its mechanical modulus and porosity.L929 fibroblast cells maintained cell viability in cell-laden-printed structures,and the addition of collagen further improved the hydrogels’biocompatibility.Overall,all results provided useful insight into the building of human soft tissue organ blocks.

Effects of FDM-3D printing parameters on mechanical properties and microstructure of CF/PEEK and GF/PEEK

Fused deposition modeling(FDM)has unique advantages in the rapid prototyping of thermoplastics which have been developed in diverse fields.However,although great efforts have been made to optimize FDM process,the mechanical properties of printed parts are limited by the weak interlamination bonding as well as the poor performance of raw filaments used,such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene(ABS),polylactic acid(PLA).Adding fibers into thermoplastic matrix and preparing high-performance filaments have been indicated to enhance the properties of fabricated parts.Recently,heat-resistant polyetheretherketone(PEEK)and its fiber reinforced composites were proposed for FDM process due to overcoming the limitation of equipment and process.However,few researches have been reported on the effects of FDM-3 D printing parameters on the mechanical properties of fiber reinforced PEEK composites.Therefore,5 wt%carbon fiber(CF)and glass fiber(GF)reinforced PEEK composite filaments were prepared respectively in this study.The effects of various printing parameters including nozzle temperature,platform temperature,printing speed and layer thickness on the mechanical properties(including tensile strength,flexural strength and impact strength)were surveyed.To analyze the microstructure and failure reasons of printed CF/PEEK and GF/PEEK samples,the tensile fractured surfaces were investigated via scanning electron microscope(SEM).

Experimental study of surface integrity and fatigue life in the face milling of Inconel 718

The Inconel 718 alloy is widely used in the aerospace and power industries. The machining-induced surface integrity and fatigue life of this material are important factors for consideration due to high reliability and safety requirements. In this work, the milling of Inconel 718 was conducted at different cutting speeds and feed rates. Surface integrity and fatigue life were measured directly. The effects of cutting speed and feed rate on surface integrity and their further influences on fatigue life were analyzed. Within the chosen parameter range, the cutting speed barely affected the surface roughness, whereas the feed rate increased the surface roughness through the ideal residual height. The surface hardness increased as the cutting speed and feed rate increased. Tensile residual stress was observed on the machined surface, which showed improvement with the increasing feed rate. The cutting speed was not an influencing factor on fatigue life, but the feed rate affected fatigue life through the surface roughness. The high surface roughness resulting from the high feed rate could result in a high stress concentration factor and lead to a low fatigue life.