Responsive Photonic Structures Based on Hydroxyl-propyl Cellulose and Cellulose Nanocrystals
School Name
South Carolina Governor's School for Science and Mathematics
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Engineering
Presentation Type
Mentored
Abstract
The coloration of many organisms, such as butterflies and marble berries, relies on structural color and not the pigments that many are familiar with. In additive manufacturing, the use of structural color currently includes cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films and hydroxyl-propyl cellulose (HPC) solutions. The objective of this project was to combine these two processes, creating vivid CNC-HPC solutions suitable for 3d printing. The helical pitches of CNC and HPC were manipulated in this experiment by using different concentrations of CNC and HPC in addition to the use of HPC and polyethylene glycerol (PEG) as additives. This provided control over what colors were produced. In testing how the use of additives effected the color of CNC films, it was found that the color was enhanced. However, when adding these films to the HPC solutions, they tended to lose visibility in the prints. Additionally, it was found that by adjusting the settings of the 3d printer, it is possible to control if the color shown may be dependent on the angle a viewer is looking from. Exploring this would allow for a larger variety of prints to be made through an alternative to those with uniform color. Future directions include the addition of grinded CNC films to HPC solutions at a later point in the mixing or printing process, as well as the discussion of applications for structural color outside of 3d printing and films.
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Amaya, "Responsive Photonic Structures Based on Hydroxyl-propyl Cellulose and Cellulose Nanocrystals" (2023). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 58.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2023/all/58
Location
ECL 340
Start Date
3-25-2023 10:15 AM
Presentation Format
Oral Only
Group Project
No
Responsive Photonic Structures Based on Hydroxyl-propyl Cellulose and Cellulose Nanocrystals
ECL 340
The coloration of many organisms, such as butterflies and marble berries, relies on structural color and not the pigments that many are familiar with. In additive manufacturing, the use of structural color currently includes cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) films and hydroxyl-propyl cellulose (HPC) solutions. The objective of this project was to combine these two processes, creating vivid CNC-HPC solutions suitable for 3d printing. The helical pitches of CNC and HPC were manipulated in this experiment by using different concentrations of CNC and HPC in addition to the use of HPC and polyethylene glycerol (PEG) as additives. This provided control over what colors were produced. In testing how the use of additives effected the color of CNC films, it was found that the color was enhanced. However, when adding these films to the HPC solutions, they tended to lose visibility in the prints. Additionally, it was found that by adjusting the settings of the 3d printer, it is possible to control if the color shown may be dependent on the angle a viewer is looking from. Exploring this would allow for a larger variety of prints to be made through an alternative to those with uniform color. Future directions include the addition of grinded CNC films to HPC solutions at a later point in the mixing or printing process, as well as the discussion of applications for structural color outside of 3d printing and films.
