USE OF WOOD-PLASTIC COMPOSITES AS MATERIAL FOR 3D PRINTED BILAYER ACTUATORS

The use of additive manufacturing is increasing and so is the search for nature based materials for 3D printing. Wood is one of the possible solutions and can be used in FDM filaments as a filler or as a reinforcing component. Wood particles for 3D printing filaments can be made from wood waste from other woodworking industries, adding value to low-cost waste materials. The disadvantage of wood - dimensional changes due to water adsorption and desorption - could also be used as its strength. Wood retains some of these properties after incorporation into polymers and WPC composites also show dimensional changes, induced by changing climate conditions, that could be used in shape changing materials. In this research, FDM printing materials with or without wood particles were used to design shape-changing bilayer actuators that could serve as active facade or ventilation valves. The initial research shows that the wood content in the WPC causes dimensional changes and thus shape changes in the designed actuator, but further research is needed to determine the behaviour of the 3D printed elements over a longer period of time with changing climatic conditions.