Comparing 3D Printed Porous Models of Different Materials and Systems Using Imaging Technique.
Abstract
For the purpose of replicating accurate porous models by 3D printing techniques, different printing materials and systems were tested individually in previous studies. However, no direct comparison was concluded yet. A more detailed comparison of these printed models could guide us on the fabrication of 3D printed rocks regarding the similarity of pore structure. In this study, three materials, including gypsum powder, silica sand, and resin, were used to make three different porous models by 3D printing technique. The printing system of binder jetting was used for gypsum and silica sand, while the Stereolithographic (SLA) printing system for the resin-based model. A digital rock model, extracted and magnified from micro-CT images of a Berea sandstone, was used as a reference model to be put into three 3D printer utilizing different materials and techniques, respectively. Then, 1.5-inch diameter printed cylindrical core samples were scanned again by an industrial-grade micro-CT to generate high-resolution images for comparison. The quantitative comparison was concluded in terms of pore size, pore shape as well as other petrophysical properties. The results showed that the powder-based samples (gypsum and silica sand) were able to generate the porous exterior rather than interior, in which the silica sand sample has the higher porosity than gypsum one due to the loose particle packing. The resin-based model shows the highest accuracy of porous media while the matrix could be assumed to be impermeable. In addition, suggestions were provided for guiding the selection of printing materials and techniques depending on the research and application purposes.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2018
- Bibcode:
- 2018AGUFMMR41C0076K
- Keywords:
-
- 5102 Acoustic properties;
- PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ROCKSDE: 5104 Fracture and flow;
- PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ROCKSDE: 5112 Microstructure;
- PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ROCKSDE: 5114 Permeability and porosity;
- PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF ROCKS