3D Printing of a Composite Beeswax-Hydrogel Lychee Ink
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Abstract:
3Dprinter,rheometer,and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used to investigate the effects of different ratios of ingredients on the rheological properties and printing performance of composite lychee ink, which was made of dried lychees, food hydrocolloids (κ-carrageenan and xanthan gum), beeswax, and pitaya peel, and to study its microstructure. With the addition of κ-carrageenan and xanthan gum in the ratio of 1:1, 8.0 g of beeswax, and 2.0 g of pitaya peel powder, the stabilization time, yield stress, K value, and n value of the composite lychee ink were 143.5 s, 187.55 Pa, 1.72×105 Pa·sn, and 0.22, respectively. This ink formulation exhibited good shearthinning properties, high thermal reversibility, and good mechanical properties. The printed products consisting of fine lines were formed with high precision and could be stacked up to 60 layers. The microstructure of the ink was a network made of a skeleton of κ-carrageenan, onto which xanthan gum, lychee pulp, and pectin were attached. Beeswax was attached to the surface of the skeletonin the form of particles (diameter of 10 μm). During the printing process, beeswax and food hydrocolloids influenced the printability of the composite lychee ink.
