Researchers at MIT Lincoln Laboratory have unveiled a groundbreaking method for 3D printing glass that dramatically reduces the heat typically required for glass production. This innovative process enables the creation of complex glass structures at room temperature, using a technique known as direct ink writing, and requires curing at only 250°C—far below the 1,000°C or more usually needed in traditional glassmaking.

Using this low-temperature additive manufacturing method, researchers successfully fabricated glass cups with tailored optical properties. These properties can be customized by modifying the chemical composition of the specially formulated inks used during printing. The inks are composed of inorganic particles suspended in a silicate-based solution, which gives engineers control over the final material’s optical, electrical, and chemical characteristics.

Once printed, the glass structures are cured in a mineral oil bath to solidify the form and then washed with an organic solvent to eliminate residual materials. This results in printed objects with high resolution, excellent thermal stability, and minimal shrinkage—qualities that are challenging to achieve with conventional 3D-printed plastics or metals, which often suffer from performance limitations under mechanical or thermal stress.

This new technique opens the door to a wider range of applications for glass in additive manufacturing. It could be particularly useful in producing intricate or unconventional components such as microfluidic devices, free-form optical elements, and heat-resistant electronic parts—items that are often difficult or impossible to fabricate using standard glass manufacturing techniques.

Ongoing research is focused on enhancing the optical transparency of the printed glass and expanding the ink formulations to offer a broader array of functional properties. With accessible raw materials and the design flexibility provided by direct ink writing, this method could revolutionize the production of custom glass components across various industries.

By Impact Lab