Emily Patterson

3D printing generates excitement and optimism, but we have to keep an eye on its environmental impact.

A big part of that impact is the material that is produced. As we use 3D printing to create electrical components and systems, we do not simply want to be adding to the growing amount of plastic putting the planet at risk.

Using nanocomposites as a 3D printing substrate is a possible answer here. With a nanocomposite, recycled bioplastics can be used to create the base polymer, to which nanoparticles are added to boost its performance and make it more viable for deployment.

Right now, this still requires significant energy to accomplish, which does slightly diminish the "green" credentials of the material. However, it's still in the early days of development and could be a good option for the future