Once upon a time there was glue, a faithful ally of carpenters and engineers. But as in every respectable fairy tale, the time has come to turn the page. The new era of gluing is here, and it speaks the futuristic language of 3D printing and sound waves.
A deeper bond
Forget about sticky tubes and the pungent smell of glue. The new bonding process goes far beyond the surface. We are talking about a bond that forms at the pore level, as if the materials were holding hands at the molecular level. This revolutionary method, called “AddJoining“, uses 3D printing to create incredibly strong joints. TheDelft University of Technology (Netherlands) and theFraunhofer Institute (Germany) they joined forces to bring this innovation to life. The results were presented at the 7th IIW Annual Assembly and International Conference last July, demonstrating that this technology is ready to make the leap from the laboratory to the real world.
When the strength is not in the glue
The unique aspect of this new bonding method is its strength. Researchers put these bonds to the test and made a surprising discovery:
When they tested the strength of their new methods, the researchers found that the joined metal and wood cracked, but they didn’t come apart. In short, the joint became stronger than the materials themselves. It’s as if they’d created a bonding superhero, capable of withstanding forces that would break even the materials it’s holding together. But that’s not all. The researchers are already thinking about the next step. Imagine combining this 3D bonding technique with laser engraving of wood. The result? Even more complex structures and larger pores in which the bond can sink its molecular roots.
Eco-friendly gluing
Goodbye pollution from industrial glues. One of the most significant advantages of this new gluing method is its reduced environmental impact. Traditional glues are notoriously not very friendly to the environment.technology: require large amounts of energy and resources to produce. With AddJoining, the process uses primarily 3D printing, eliminating the need to produce and dispose of chemical adhesives. A much smarter way to hold things together.
3D bonding, there is potential
This new method of bonding isn’t just a lab curiosity. It has the potential to revolutionize entire industries, from furniture to construction to automotive and aerospace. Imagine homes built without toxic glues, or furniture that can be easily disassembled and recycled without leaving harmful residues. AddJoining could be the key to a more sustainable and circular future. It’s not just about strength or ecology. It’s a paradigm shift in how we think about joining materials. We are moving from an “additive” approach (adding glue between two surfaces) to an “integrative” one, where materials blend together at the molecular level.
Bound to the future
The new 3D bonding process isn’t just a technological breakthrough. It’s a symbol of how we can rethink processes we’ve taken for granted, finding smarter, stronger, and more sustainable solutions. In a while, 3D printers could become as common as kitchen stoves: instead of searching for a tube of glue in the drawer, you’ll find yourself programming your 3D printer to bond perfectly. The future is here, and it’s bonded to perfection.
