3D Printed Foam Ink — Harvard SEAS (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) & Wyss Institute

Biological model: Grass cell structures

Company: Harvard SEAS (School of Engineering and Applied Sciences) & Wyss Institute

A 3D printable foam ink developed by Harvard SEAS and Wyss Institute inspired by grass cell structures for lightweight, strong materials.

The challenge

Materials used in aerospace and structural applications often sacrifice strength for lightness or vice versa. Manufacturing complex lightweight structures at scale is expensive and material-intensive.

Nature's strategy

Grass cell structures (cellular organization of grass blades)

What was emulated

Cellular architecture for strength, lightness, and structural efficiency

The innovation

3D printable foam material with cellular structure inspired by grass cells for excellent strength-to-weight ratio.

Full case study

Researchers at Harvard's School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) and Wyss Institute developed a 3D printable foam ink inspired by the cellular structure of grass. Grass blades combine strength with lightness through clever cellular organization - they maintain structural integrity while being lightweight and flexible. By mimicking this cellular architecture in a printable foam material, the team created a substance that can be 3D printed into complex shapes while maintaining excellent strength-to-weight ratios. The material has applications in aerospace, automotive, and structural engineering.