Liquid Deposition Modeling: a promising approach for 3D printing of wood

Liquid Deposition Modeling is introduced as a promising technology for 3D printing of wood. Specimens were printed using different paste-like suspensions made from ground beech sawdust and methylcellulose dissolved in water. The wood content could be increased up to 89% in dry mass. Physical properties were influenced by binder/water ratio and wood particle size. Shrinkage due to drying was 17.3-20.0%. Density values (r(12)) lay between 0.33 and 0.48 g/cm(3). Bending strength and modulus of elasticity ranged from 2.3 to 7.4 and from 284.8 to 733.1 N/mm(2), respectively. Density, MOR and MOE increased with increasing viscosity of dissolved methylcellulose and decreased with increasing particle size.