Close Menu
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    • News
    • Insights
    • Case Studies
    • AM Infocast
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
  • Events
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
  • About us
  • Media Kit
  • Contact us
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
  • Content
    1. News
    2. Insights
    3. Case Studies
    4. AM Infocast
    5. View All
    Marvin Raupert – an engineer on the project – pictured with a model demonstrating the 3D printing process., Credits: Leibniz University

    Leibniz University Researchers Successfully Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing in Microgravity

    August 30, 2025
    Rocket Lab Signs MoU with Nikon SLM Solutions for Next-Generation Ultra-Large Metal AM Platform

    Rocket Lab Signs MoU with Nikon SLM Solutions for Next-Generation Ultra-Large Metal AM Platform

    August 29, 2025
    Honeywell-Led Consortium Secures £14.1 Million for AI-Driven Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace Sector

    Honeywell-Led Consortium Secures £14.1 Million for AI-Driven Additive Manufacturing in Aerospace Sector

    August 29, 2025
    Credits: WFIRM

    WFIRM to Test 3D Bioprinted Liver Tissue Onboard the ISS

    August 25, 2025
    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    August 29, 2025
    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    August 29, 2025
    Pure copper and copper alloy (CuCrZr, CuCrNb, CuSn10) samples produced using ADDIREEN's green-laser powder bed fusion AM machines (Image courtesy: Addireen Technologies)

    Addireen: Pioneering Copper Printing in Metal Additive Manufacturing

    August 12, 2025
    Digital Twin Integration in Additive Manufacturing Systems: Revolutionizing Design, Production, and Lifecycle Management

    Digital Twin Integration in Additive Manufacturing Systems: Revolutionizing Design, Production, and Lifecycle Management

    July 4, 2025
    Source: Formlabs

    Case Study: Eaton Corporation’s Strategic Transition to In-House 3D Printing for Tooling Applications

    August 29, 2025
    Revolutionizing Atherosclerosis Research with 3D-Bioprinted Brain Vessels

    Revolutionizing Atherosclerosis Research with 3D-Bioprinted Brain Vessels

    August 25, 2025
    Formlabs fuse 1+

    How Imaginarium Helped Kaash Studio Scale with the Right 3D Printing Technology

    April 12, 2025
    The Formlabs Fuse 1+ 30W

    Kaash Studio Optimized Service Bureau Operations with Formlabs 3D Printers- Case Study

    January 30, 2025
    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing

    Sustainable Production of Metal Powder for Additive Manufacturing with Bruce Bradshaw

    February 15, 2024
    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    Meeting Evolving Customer Demands in the Additive Manufacturing Industry with Tyler Reid

    February 9, 2024
    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    Innovation is at the heart of AMUG with Diana Kalisz

    March 7, 2023
    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    3D Printing Workshops at AMUG with Edward Graham

    March 7, 2023
    Marvin Raupert – an engineer on the project – pictured with a model demonstrating the 3D printing process., Credits: Leibniz University

    Leibniz University Researchers Successfully Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing in Microgravity

    August 30, 2025
    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

    August 29, 2025
    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

    August 29, 2025
    Source: Formlabs

    Case Study: Eaton Corporation’s Strategic Transition to In-House 3D Printing for Tooling Applications

    August 29, 2025
  • Focus Regions
    • India
    • Asia Pacific
    • Middle East
    • North America
    • Europe
  • Industries
    • Automotive
    • Aerospace
    • Defence
    • Energy
    • Construction
    • Healthcare
    • Tooling
    • Engineering
  • Training
  • Magazine
    • Digital Issues
  • Events
Subscribe
AM ChronicleAM Chronicle
Home » News

Rice researchers develop 3D-printed wood from its own natural components

News By AM Chronicle Editorial TeamMarch 20, 20242 Mins Read
540
Muhammad Rahman (center), an assistant research professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice and his lab. Photo courtesy of Gustavo Raskosky/Rice University.
LinkedIn Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Pinterest Email Copy Link

Researchers at Rice University have unlocked the potential to use 3D printing to make sustainable wood structures, offering a greener alternative to traditional manufacturing methods.

Wood has historically been marred by wasteful practices generated during shaping processes, driving up costs and environmental impact. Now researchers in materials science and nanoengineering at Rice 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 work was recently published in the journal Science Advances.

“The ability to create a wood structure directly from its own natural components sets the stage for a more eco-friendly and innovative future,” said Muhammad Rahman, an assistant research professor of materials science and nanoengineering at Rice. “It heralds a new era of sustainable 3D-printed wood construction.”

The implications are far-reaching, potentially revolutionizing industries such as furniture and construction.

“Unlike previous attempts, this method exclusively uses nanoscale wood components for 3D printing, marking a significant advancement in the field,” said Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Engineering and professor and chair of materials science and nanoengineering.

The university’s research 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, according to both M.S.H Thakur and Chen Shi, lead co-authors on the study.

Although lignin is one of the most abundant biopolymers on Earth, it is the least-valued product in industries, noted Amit Naskar, a project collaborator and senior research and development staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Post-printing, comprehensive analyses were conducted to assess the surface and internal structures of the 3D printed wood, comparing it to natural wood counterparts. The payoff not only exhibited close similarities to natural wood in texture but also in scent and strength.

Additionally, mechanical tests were performed to evaluate compressive and bending strengths, revealing promising results that surpassed those of natural balsa wood.

The research was supported by Rice and the Rice Shared Equipment Authority and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, Basic Energy Sciences and Engineering Division under FWPERKCK60.

Subscribe to AM Chronicle Newsletter to stay connected:  https://bit.ly/3fBZ1mP 

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://bit.ly/3IjhrFq 

Visit for more interesting content on additive manufacturing: https://amchronicle.com 

Original Source 

3d printing 3D printing research additive manufacturing Composite Additive Manufacturing Rice University USA
AM Chronicle Editorial Team

The AM Chronicle Editorial Team is a collective of passionate individuals committed to delivering insightful, accurate and engaging stories to additive manufacturing audiences worldwide.

NAMIC GLOBAL AM SUMMIT 2025
LATEST FROM AM
Marvin Raupert – an engineer on the project – pictured with a model demonstrating the 3D printing process., Credits: Leibniz University News

Leibniz University Researchers Successfully Demonstrate Metal 3D Printing in Microgravity

August 30, 20251 Min Read
Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow Insights

Making Milestones: 3D printing for a greener tomorrow

August 29, 20257 Mins Read
Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing Insights

Nestlé embraces technology and innovation in 3D printing

August 29, 20253 Mins Read

CONNECT WITH US

  • 126 A, Dhuruwadi, A. V. Nagvekar Marg, Prabhadevi, Mumbai 400025
  • [email protected]
  • +91 022 24306319
Facebook Instagram YouTube LinkedIn

Newsletter

Subscribe to the AM Chronicle mailer to receive latest tech updates and insights from global industry experts.

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Quick Links

  • News
  • Insights
  • Case Studies
  • AM Training
  • AM Infocast
  • AM Magazine
  • Events

Media

  • Advertise with us
  • Sponsored Articles
  • Media Kit

Events

  • AM Conclave 2025
    24-25 September 2025 | ADNEC, Abu Dhabi
  • AMTECH 2025
    3-4 December 2025 | KTPO, Whitefield, Bengaluru
CNT Expositions & Services LLP
© 2025 CNT Expositions & Services LLP.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.



0 / 75