October 16, 2023
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder in the USA have come up with a 3D printing technique, which uses a paste composed of water, coffee grounds and other sustainable ingredients. With a few modifications to consumer-grade 3D printers and the newly developed paste, they printed a variety of items including pots for plants and jewellery. To prepare the paste, dried coffee grounds were mixed with xanthan gum and cellulose gum, two materials that degrade easily. Most consumer 3D printers use thermoplastics for printing, which do not decompose easily. The new method reduces the use of plastic in the 3D-printing process.
Did You Know?
Coffee grounds are used as a natural skin exfoliator.
Image Source: colorado.edu
