Lux Research的Dayton Horvath和Olivia Hentz为3D印刷中的生物聚合物提供了机会。
在3D打印技术的进度驱动的驱动下，已经开发了可打印的热塑性塑料，以满足广泛的应用程序，例如functional prototyping, molds and tooling, and final part production. However, the few printable thermoplastics made from biological materials have limited applications, leading to concerns over environmental issues similar to those faced in conventional manufacturing.
New biopolymers currently in development for conventional manufacturing can provide interesting opportunities for expanding biopolymer use in 3D printing applications。
To determine the current state of bio-based 3D printable materials, available bio-based thermoplastics were cross-examined with currently 3D printable thermoplastics. The figure below shows this landscape as a function of glass transition temperature and a score of 0 to 5 for the mechanical quality of the polymer (taken as an average of scores assigned for tensile strength and elastic modulus).
各种基于生物的热塑性塑料的开发阶段是通过颜色鉴定的，绿色的可商购的3D可打印生物聚合物，生物聚合物已成功地以黄色的非商业环境打印出来，而这些生物聚合物仍在黄色的非商业环境中，以及仍在开发的传统制造业。
基于热和机械性能，这些聚合物也被归类为商品，工程或性能热塑料，圆直径增加。灰色材料是标准商品，工程和性能级聚合物（不是生物聚合物），供参考。
聚乙烯Furanoate用于3D打印的承诺
尽管目前可用的生物聚合物在拉伸强度和弹性模量方面都表现出合理的机械品质，但它们的稳定温度范围有限，而如今几乎没有生物聚合物的工作温度中等高。
开发具有增强热稳定性的生物塑料将大大扩展使用3D印刷生物塑料的应用，例如可定制的消费品和汽车内部零件，并可能导致这些材料的市场增长。
对于机械性能很重要的应用，聚乙烯呋喃酸盐（PEF）显示出最有望的它增强了当前生物聚合物的热和机械性能。
pefis synthesized analogously to PET (which has been demonstrated for 3D printing) and it has the potential to be glycol modified like the more commonly printed PETG.
对于温度稳定性是关键度量的应用，三菱化学公司的Durabio聚碳酸酯（PC）在基于生物的工程热塑性塑料中脱颖而出。
开发3D打印材料的机会
从可用的3D可打印材料中选择时，必须考虑可以打印材料的方法。打印热塑性材料的两种最常见方法是融合细丝制造（FFF）和选择性激光烧结（SLS）。
Many more materials have been found to be compatible with FFF printing methods, however the quality of parts is markedly better for SLS printed materials.
This presents an opportunity to further develop polyamides (PAs) from biological sources since the properties of these PAs can vary greatly and they are the most commonly used materials for SLS printing.
鉴于细丝或颗粒形式的灵活性以及更广泛的FFF打印机的采用，FFF是测试新生物聚合物的良好平台。
FFF does, however, present higher barriers to adoption for new biopolymers in engineering and performance applications due to isotropic strength limitations among other drawbacks.
In comparison, developing materials for SLS is more challenging due to the powder form factor required but offers more promise given the more production-oriented nature of SLS systems and an opportunity to expand the limited selection of materials currently available.
对于化学和材料开发人员而言，基于生物的3D可打印的机会是用于工程级聚合物，特别是用于从定制中受益但受到现有生物聚合物的热稳定性的消费产品的使用。
PEF和PC特别在扩展3D打印中的当前生物聚合物使用方面有希望，PEF和PC目前针对消费产品，并且PC还用于化妆品汽车组件。
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