In a remarkable technological feat, researchers at KTH Royal Institute of Technology have successfully 3D printed the world’s smallest drinking glass. This tiny glass, with edges thinner than a human hair, demonstrates a groundbreaking new technique for using silica glass structures in various applications. The development of this simplified method for 3D printing silica glass opens up a world of possibilities in areas such as telecommunications, robotics, and fiber optic networks.
Silica glass, made by melting pure silica at high temperatures, is renowned for its clarity and durability. It has diverse applications, including custom lenses for medical machines used in minimally invasive surgery and microrobots capable of navigating in harsh environments. In addition, it is used in filters and couplers for fiber optic networks.
The traditional production of fused silica requires a high-temperature process that produces glass by depositing layer after layer of tiny glass particles on a growing surface. (Image credit: Corning)
Normally, creating silica-glass structures takes hours at extremely high temperatures, up to several hundred degrees. However, the new breakthrough technique eliminates the need for such heat treatment, significantly reducing the energy required for the printing process. This innovative approach enables the glass to withstand extreme temperatures in various applications.
One of the main advantages of this technique is the ability to produce silicon glass using commercially available materials. By eliminating the dependence on heat treatment, this method becomes more flexible and can be used widely in different application scenarios. Although optimization for specific applications is still needed, the researchers believe their method represents an important breakthrough in 3D glass printing.
The rim is smaller than the width of a human hair (Photo credit: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, iStock)
The researchers not only successfully printed the world’s smallest drinking glass, but also demonstrated printing a fiber-optic filter directly on top of an optical fiber as thin as a human hair. This development has far-reaching implications, especially in the telecommunications sector, where optical fibers made of glass form the backbone of the internet. The ability to 3D print filters and couplers using this technique opens up new possibilities for enhancing and expanding fiber networks.
The potential applications of this breakthrough extend beyond telecommunications. The researchers envision creating custom lenses for medical devices and microrobots using this technique. Coating 3D printed microstructures with nanodiamonds or iron nanoparticles could further enhance their properties for applications in hybrid quantum photonic integration or magnetically controlled motion.
Po-Han Huang, PhD student at KTH and lead author of the study, said: “While the optimization of our method is still needed for different applications, we believe our method provides an important and necessary breakthrough for 3D printing of used glasses. in real-life situations.” By reducing energy requirements and eliminating the need for heat treatment, this breakthrough paves the way for a future where complex silica glass structures can be efficiently and accurately printed, opening a new era of possibilities in various industries. For more information, click here.
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*Cover photo: KTH Royal Institute of Technology
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