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Researchers at the University of Amsterdam have developed a 3D printing method for ice without refrigeration, using low pressure in a vacuum chamber to freeze water in fractions of a second.
The process utilizes evaporative cooling. By injecting a fine mist of water at room temperature into a nearly vacuum chamber, the molecules evaporate quickly and draw energy from the remaining liquid.
As the temperature drops in a fraction of a second, the water transforms into ice upon reaching the structure being built. The droplets remain liquid for half a second, allowing for melting and stabilization of the shape.
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Creation Capabilities and Speed in 3D Ice Printing
The system enabled the creation of a Christmas tree made of ice eight centimeters tall in 26 minutes, as well as tracing a human profile of six centimeters in just eight seconds, without the need for lower supports.
According to the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences by Menno Demmenie, Stefan Kooij, and Daniel Bonn, the technique achieves speeds up to 100 times greater than previous approaches that used cooled surfaces.
Disposable Molds and Applications on Mars
The primary initial practical application is the production of disposable molds. The ice structures can be coated with resin and melted later, leaving hollow channels for microfluidic networks or supports for cellular tissues.
The study also points to future use on Mars, where atmospheric pressure is around 6 millibars and there is an abundance of ice. Machines could build structures using local water without the need to transport refrigeration equipment.
Source: Zme Science
