Special ‘ink’ developed at CityU enables world’s first 4D printing for ceramics
Prof. LU Jian’s team has created the first ever 4D printing method for ceramics, which are mechanically robust, feature complex shapes and have a high melting point that makes it difficult to print with conventional laser printers or 3D printers. The new printing process could be particularly useful in manufacturing electronic devices, where ceramic materials show better performance in transmitting electromagnetic signals than metallic materials. The ability to create complex ceramic materials also enable consumers to tailor individually designed ceramic mobile phone back plates. Prof. LU indicated that the 4D-printed ceramic has high potential to be used as a propulsion component in the aerospace field. The team would then continue to enhance the mechanical properties of the material, including reducing its brittleness. Their work titled “Origami and 4D printing of elastomer-derived ceramic structures” has recently been published in Science Advances and has received four US patents so far.
(Source: “New Method Enables 4D Printed Ceramics”, RandDMagazine, 22 Aug 2018)
Selected press coverage:
(21 Aug 2018) 4D-Printed Ceramics Will Change Computing, Spaceflight, and Probably Mugs, Forever [inverse.com]
(21 Aug 2018) Researchers Come Up with Novel Method for 4D Printing for Ceramics [techyounme.com]
(22 Aug 2018) 港陶瓷4D打印技術助研航空引擎 [Ta Kung Pao]
(22 Aug 2018) 陶瓷遇熱變身 3D升呢4D 城大全球首創 獲美4項專利 [Wen Wei Po]
(22 Aug 2018) 城大全球首創陶瓷4D打印 獲美4項專利 [hkcna.hk]
(22 Aug 2018) New Method Enables 4D Printed Ceramics [rdmag.com]
(22 Aug 2018) Researchers introduce 1st ever 4D printing for ceramics [Indiablooms.com]
(25 Aug 2018) 陶瓷4D打印發明者呂堅：做研究最重要是原創 [xinhuanet.com]
(28 Aug 2018) 4D列印獲突破！未來人人都可成為「造物主」 [read01.com 壹讀]
(30 Aug 2018) World's First-Ever 4D Printing for Ceramics [Manufacturing.net]
(31 Aug 2018) 城大研「陶瓷墨水」 可4D打印陶瓷 [Sky Post]