Review of alginate-based composites for 3D printing material

Abstract

The ability of alginates to form hydrogel solutions makes them a promising biomaterial for three-dimensional (3D) printing. Researchers are investigating several techniques to improve the alginate hydrogels’ quality, such as using alginate-based nanocomposites as materials for 3D printing. This review examines the material of alginate-based composites, the printing technique, and the applications of 3D printing alginate-based composites. Material composites for 3D printing include alginate with clay, a combination of alginate with polymers or biopolymers, and a mixture of alginate with metal oxide and carbon. The 3D printing material from alginate combined with polymers is usually used in the medical and green packaging industries, whereas a mixture of alginate with clay, metal oxide, and carbon 3D printing material is utilized in the environmental field. When considering printing procedures, extrusion techniques are the most affordable. Furthermore, the purpose of alginate composite characterization is to determine the impact generated by the material combinations. This characterization is carried out based on the intended application. However, it is common to employ mechanical, thermal, rheological, scanning electron, XRD, and FTIR analysis to identify the fundamental characteristics of the alginate composite according to research.