Porous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder

Abstract In addition to the inherent limitations of carbons to melt or flow, a vast majority of carbon precursors deforms during carbonisation, with stereolithography of thermoset resins being the preferred technology for 3D printing of carbons. An alternative is now presented with the possibility o...

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Main Authors: Raúl Llamas-Unzueta, Alejandro Reguera-García, Miguel A. Montes-Morán, J. Angel Menéndez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-01-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84976-y
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author Raúl Llamas-Unzueta
Alejandro Reguera-García
Miguel A. Montes-Morán
J. Angel Menéndez
author_facet Raúl Llamas-Unzueta
Alejandro Reguera-García
Miguel A. Montes-Morán
J. Angel Menéndez
author_sort Raúl Llamas-Unzueta
collection DOAJ
description Abstract In addition to the inherent limitations of carbons to melt or flow, a vast majority of carbon precursors deforms during carbonisation, with stereolithography of thermoset resins being the preferred technology for 3D printing of carbons. An alternative is now presented with the possibility of using a melting-based technology, selective laser sintering (SLS), to fabricate 3D structures that withstand carbonisation. The key factor that makes this happen is whey powder, a natural, abundant and cheap by-product of the dairy industry. When heating the whey powder with a laser at 180–200 ºC for a few seconds, whey particles sinter, and 3D structures are obtained layer-by-layer. Carbonisation of the sintered whey structures brings about 3D porous carbons with excellent mechanical properties that preserve the SLS printed form albeit an isotropic shrinkage (approx. 23%). Melanoidins are identified as responsible for both the sintering and the thermoset behaviour during carbonisation of the whey powder.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-bf8c456cc08b4d1f8a134353a8de6df82025-08-20T03:42:29ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111110.1038/s41598-024-84976-yPorous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powderRaúl Llamas-Unzueta0Alejandro Reguera-García1Miguel A. Montes-Morán2J. Angel Menéndez3Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono, INCAR-CSICInstituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono, INCAR-CSICInstituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono, INCAR-CSICInstituto de Ciencia y Tecnología del Carbono, INCAR-CSICAbstract In addition to the inherent limitations of carbons to melt or flow, a vast majority of carbon precursors deforms during carbonisation, with stereolithography of thermoset resins being the preferred technology for 3D printing of carbons. An alternative is now presented with the possibility of using a melting-based technology, selective laser sintering (SLS), to fabricate 3D structures that withstand carbonisation. The key factor that makes this happen is whey powder, a natural, abundant and cheap by-product of the dairy industry. When heating the whey powder with a laser at 180–200 ºC for a few seconds, whey particles sinter, and 3D structures are obtained layer-by-layer. Carbonisation of the sintered whey structures brings about 3D porous carbons with excellent mechanical properties that preserve the SLS printed form albeit an isotropic shrinkage (approx. 23%). Melanoidins are identified as responsible for both the sintering and the thermoset behaviour during carbonisation of the whey powder.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84976-y
spellingShingle Raúl Llamas-Unzueta
Alejandro Reguera-García
Miguel A. Montes-Morán
J. Angel Menéndez
Porous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder
Scientific Reports
title Porous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder
title_full Porous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder
title_fullStr Porous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder
title_full_unstemmed Porous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder
title_short Porous carbons with complex 3D geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder
title_sort porous carbons with complex 3d geometries via selective laser sintering of whey powder
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-84976-y
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AT miguelamontesmoran porouscarbonswithcomplex3dgeometriesviaselectivelasersinteringofwheypowder
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