Researchers develop 3D-printed wood from its own natural components

Researchers from Rice University and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have developed an additive-free, water-based ink made of lignin and cellulose, the fundamental building blocks of wood. The ink can be used to produce architecturally intricate wood structures via a 3D printing technique known as direct ink writing. The researchers focused on optimizing the composition of the ink by adjusting the ratio of lignin, cellulose nanofibers, and nanocrystals while maintaining the natural lignin-cellulose balance.