Cork Powder Residues Processing by Binder Jetting

Cork-based formulations adapted to binder jetting processes were herein developed and investigated. Two cork powder sets with different particle size distributions were studied to evaluate cork particles' ability to pack. Cork powders exhibiting a coarse distribution revealed a higher packing ability. In addition, owing to cork's lower affinity to water-based binders, the addition of two hydrophilic additives was explored. 3D-printed (3DP) cork parts with a simple geometry were first printed. An innovative technique was evaluated as a postprocessing phase to improve cork particle adhesion after printing. Inspired by the production of expanded cork agglomerates, use of autoclave technique as a postprocessing phase for cork parts was proposed. After the autoclave, 3DP parts exhibited an improved adhesion of cork particles, demonstrated by morphological and mechanical analyses. Fourier transform infra-red analyses demonstrated that the polysaccharide and suberinic fractions were also affected by the autoclave. 3DP cork parts with a complex design solution were successfully printed. This study contributes to new and complex design solutions for cork-based products maintaining cork's natural lightness, warmness, and softness to the touch.