Evaluating 3D printed bioseparation structures using multi-length scale
tomography
Abstract
X-ray computed tomography was applied in imaging 3D printed gyroids used
for bioseparation in order to visualize and characterize structures from
the entire geometry down to individual nanopores. Methacrylate prints
were fabricated with feature sizes of 500 µm, 300 µm and 200 µm, with
the material phase exhibiting a porous substructure in all cases. Two
X-ray scanners achieved pixel sizes from 5 µm to 16 nm to produce
digital representations of samples across multiple length scales as the
basis for geometric analysis and flow simulation. At the gyroid scale,
imaged samples were visually compared to the original computed aided
designs to analyze printing fidelity across all feature sizes. An
individual 500 µm feature, part of the overall gyroid structure, was
compared and overlaid between the design and imaged volumes where
individual printed layers could be identified. Internal subvolumes of
all feature sizes were segmented into material and void phases for
permeable flow analysis. Small pieces of 3D printed material were
optimized for nanotomographic imaging at a pixel size of 63 nm, with all
three gyroid samples exhibiting similar geometric characteristics when
measured. An average porosity of 45% was obtained that was within the
expected design range and a tortuosity factor of 2.52 was measured.
Applying a voidage network map enabled the size, location and
connectivity of individual pores to be identified, obtaining an average
internal pore size of 793 nm. Using the Avizo XLAB plugin at a bulk
diffusivity of 7.00 x10 -11 m 2s
-1 resulted in a simulated material diffusivity of
2.17 x10 -11 m 2s
-1 ± 0.16 x10 -11 m
2s -1.