Chapter 4

Factors Affecting the Printability of Foods

C. Anandharamakrishnan

C. Anandharamakrishnan

National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management - Thanjavur (an Institute of National Importance; formerly Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology - IIFPT), Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

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Jeyan A. Moses

Jeyan A. Moses

National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management - Thanjavur (an Institute of National Importance; formerly Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology - IIFPT), Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

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T. Anukiruthika

T. Anukiruthika

National Institute of Food Technology, Entrepreneurship and Management - Thanjavur (an Institute of National Importance; formerly Indian Institute of Food Processing Technology - IIFPT), Ministry of Food Processing Industries, Government of India, Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu, India

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First published: 25 March 2022

Summary

3D food printing is a digitalized technology that follows pre-defined process steps in the conversion of 3D design into printable form through the slicing of a 3D model. Food printing is an integration of 3D printing and gastronomic approaches with digitalized nutrition control. Two significant aspects that influence 3D printing are the nature of the material and process parameters. Both intrinsic (physical, chemical, rheological, mechanical, frictional, thermal, and dielectric properties) and extrinsic factors (optimization of material supply and printing process variables) have a great impact on the mechanical stability and aesthetic aspects of 3D printed constructs. This chapter solely discusses the above-mentioned critical process variables of printability. The major discussion is provided for extrusion-based technology with a brief discussion on other food printing technologies. Certainly, the present work attempts to provide insights on the relationship between material properties and printing process variables in the optimization of the food printing process. Understanding various factors affecting the printability of foods is crucial in avoiding the discrepancies in the production of a 3D construct that resembles the 3D model in transforming the imagination into reality. Knowledge about the response of material supplies towards various printing process variables is quite significant for a successful 3D printing process in achieving a stable 3D food construct.

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