Crystal-Inspired Cellular Metamaterials and Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces.

Triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMSs) are found in many natural objects including butterfly wings, sea urchins, and biological membranes. They simultaneously have zero mean curvature at every point and a crystallographic group symmetry. A metamaterial can be created from such periodic surfaces or used as a reinforcement of a composite material.

Prediction of Cellular Structure Mechanical Properties with the Geometry of Triply Periodic Minimal Surfaces (TPMS).

The paper investigates the physical and mechanical properties of structures with the geometry of triply periodic minimal surfaces (TPMS). Test samples were made from polyamide using SLS (selective laser sintering) 3D printing technology, from polylactide using FDM (Fused deposition modeling) 3D printing technology, and from a photopolymer based on acrylates using LCD (liquid crystal display) technology; samples were made in the form of a cube with edge size 30 mm. The strength and energy-absorbing properties of TPMS-based cellular samples have been determined.

High-Throughput Screening of 3D-Printed Architected Materials Inspired by Crystal Lattices: Procedure, Challenges, and Mechanical Properties.

The search for load-bearing, impact-resistant, and energy-absorbing cellular materials is of central interest in many fields including aerospace, automotive, civil, sports, packaging, and biomedical. In order to achieve the desired characteristic geometry and/or topology, a perspective approach may be used, such as utilization of atomic models as input data for 3D printing of macroscopic objects. In this paper, we suggest a new approach for the development of advanced cellular materials-crystallomorphic design based on selection of perspective crystal structures and modeling of their electron density distribution and utilization of isoelectronic surfaces as a generatrix for 3D-printed cellular materials.