https://www.ll.mit.edu/research-and-development/advanced-technology/microsystems-prototyping-foundry/low-temperature Skip to main content MIT Lincoln Laboratory is open. MIT Lincoln Laboratory is open. Hanscom Air Force Base has declared Force Protection Condition Bravo. Close alert Yes MIT Lincoln Laboratory [mitll-logo] MIT Lincoln Laboratory MIT Logo Toggle search form What Are You Searching For? Search [ ] [Search] Menu Toggle main menu Lincoln Laboratory Logo Lincoln Laboratory Logo MIT Lincoln Laboratory * Our Impact + LATEST: A software platform streamlines emergency response * Research and Development Toggle menu section + Advanced Technology + Air, Missile, and Maritime Defense Technology + Air Traffic Control + Biotechnology and Human Systems + Communication Systems + Cyber Security and Information Sciences + Engineering + Homeland Protection + ISR Systems and Technology + Space Systems and Technology + Tactical Systems + Technology Office + Projects + Publications + Datasets + Staff Biographies + Key Initiatives + Civil Space Systems and Technology * Careers Toggle menu section + Benefits + People and Culture + Business Areas + Student Opportunities + Military Programs + BROWSE ALL OPPORTUNITIES * Partner With Us Toggle menu section + Available Technologies + Small Business Program + Working with Lincoln Laboratory + Government + Academia & Not-for-Profits + About Technology Transfer * Outreach Toggle menu section + STEM Programs + Online STEM Courses + Education Resources + Community Giving * + Visitor Information + About + News + Conferences & Events + Contact Us Visit us on facebook . Visit us on twitter . Visit us on linkedin . Visit us on youtube . Visit us on instagram . Visit us on threads. R&D Toggle section menu Section navigation * Research and Development + Advanced Technology Toggle menu section o Advanced Imager Technology o Advanced Materials and Microsystems o Laser Technology and Applications o Quantum-Enabled Computation o Integrated RF and Photonics o Leadership o Microsystems Prototyping Foundry Toggle menu section # Advanced Imaging Technology # Design # Fabrication # Fully Depleted Silicon-on-Insulator CMOS # Gallium Nitride on Silicon # Integrated Photonics Platforms # Low-Temperature Additive Manufacturing of Glass # Materials # Microhydraulic Actuator Development # Nanocomposite Inks for 3D Printing RF Devices # Packaging Technology # Packaging # Superconducting Integrated Circuits # Test + Air, Missile, and Maritime Defense Technology Toggle menu section o Advanced Concepts and Technologies o Advanced Sensor Systems and Test Beds o Advanced Undersea Systems and Technology o Integrated Missile Defense Technology o Interceptor and Sensor Technology o Systems and Architectures o Leadership + Air Traffic Control Toggle menu section o Air Traffic Control and Weather Systems o Transportation Safety and Resilience o Leadership + Biotechnology and Human Systems Toggle menu section o Biological and Chemical Technologies o Counter-Weapons of Mass Destruction Systems o Human Resilience Technology o Human Health and Performance Systems Toggle menu section # Human Health and Performance Systems Leadership o Leadership + Communication Systems Toggle menu section o Communication Networks and Analysis o Laser Communications o Optical and Quantum Communications o Strategic and Long-Range Communications o Tactical Edge Communications o Tactical Satellite Communications o Leadership + Cyber Security and Information Sciences Toggle menu section o Artifical Intelligence Technology and Systems o Cyber-Physical Systems o Cyber Operations and Analysis Technology o Cyber System Assessments o Lincoln Laboratory Supercomputing Center o Secure Resilient Systems and Technology o Cyber Grand Challenge Toggle menu section # Final Event # Qualifying Event o pMatlab o Leadership + Engineering Toggle menu section o Control and Autonomous Systems Engineering o Fabrication Engineering o Mechanical Engineering o Optical Engineering o Rapid Prototyping o Structural and Thermal-Fluids Engineering o Systems Engineering o Leadership + Homeland Protection Toggle menu section o Homeland Decision Support Systems o Energy Systems o Homeland Protection Systems o Homeland Sensors and Analytics o Leadership + ISR Systems and Technology Toggle menu section o Active Optical Systems o Airborne Radar Systems and Techniques o Embedded and Open Systems o ISR Systems and Architectures o Leadership + Space Systems and Technology Toggle menu section o Advanced Capabilities and Technologies o Advanced Sensors and Techniques o Applied Space Systems o Information Integration and Decision Support o Integrated Systems and Concepts o Space Systems Analysis and Test o Leadership + Tactical Systems Toggle menu section o Advanced Capabilities and Systems o Tactical Defense Systems o Systems and Analysis o Leadership + Technology Office Toggle menu section o Mission Critical Technology o Technology Office Challenges o Technology Office Leadership o Emerging Technology o Innovation and Collaboration o Artificial Intelligence Technology + Projects + Publications + Datasets + Staff Biographies + Key Initiatives + Civil Space Systems and Technology Breadcrumb 1. MIT Lincoln Laboratory 2. R&D 3. Advanced Technology 4. Microsystems Prototyping Foundry Low-Temperature Additive Manufacturing of Glass Researchers used the low-temperature additive manufacturing process to build the glass cups above. The optical behavior of the printed cups can be tailored by altering the chemical components of the inks. Researchers used the low-temperature additive manufacturing process to build the glass cups above. The optical behavior of the printed cups can be tailored by altering the chemical components of the inks. Additive manufacturing (3D printing) holds promise for fabricating complex glass structures that would be unattainable with traditional glass manufacturing techniques. Lincoln Laboratory's innovative approach allows additive manufacturing of multimaterial glass items without the need for costly high-temperature processing techniques. Our low-temperature technique could facilitate the widespread adoption of 3D printing for glass devices such as microfluidic systems, free-form optical lenses or fiber, and high-temperature electronic components. KEY FEATURES * Via direct ink writing, Lincoln Laboratory uses custom inks from a variety of inorganic materials combined with a silicate solution to engineer the optical, chemical, and electrical properties of a composite * The ink ingredients are widely available, and direct ink writing affords a broad range of geometric freedom for creating glass structures * The curing process generates a stable glass structure requiring only a 250degC heat treatment instead of typical glass processing at temperatures > 1,000degC Workflow of printing glass parts: 1) Print part at room temperature, 2) Cure in mineral oil bath to 250C, 3) Wash part Additive manufacturing has expanded the ability to rapidly and cost-effectively create system components. However, traditional materials -- various plastic and metal composites -- can produce 3D printed structures with mechanical, chemical, and thermal instabilities. Using inorganic composite glasses solves many of the instability issues and offers a promising approach to create structures with diverse shapes and properties. However, the high temperatures (greater than 1,000degC) typically used to sinter (harden) glass items have hindered the use of glass in 3D printing. High-temperature processing requires specialized equipment and is incompatible with temperature-sensitive materials and components. Graphic overview of custom ink engineering. Silicate ink reacts with silica particles to produce rigid silicate/silica glass composite at room temperature. Overview of custom ink engineering. Silicate ink reacts with silica particles to produce rigid silicate/silica glass composite at room temperature. Lincoln Laboratory has demonstrated viable low-temperature 3D printing of glass structures. The process uses the direct ink writing technique to extrude, layer by layer, the Laboratory-developed multimaterial glass ink (composed of a silicate solution and nanoparticles of other inorganics) into the desired form. The process is done at room temperature. To ensure structural stability, the item is cured in a mineral oil bath heated to just 250degC. Following heat treatment, the structure is rinsed in an organic solvent to remove residual mineral, leaving a fully inorganic silica item. Tests on items built via low-temperature additive manufacturing have shown promising results: * Structures with a high degree of resolution * High thermal stability * Minimal shrinkage Ongoing research is focused on improving the optical clarity of the glass and creating inks that enable different chemical and electrical properties. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact Bradley Duncan Lincoln Laboratory Logo Visit us on facebook . Visit us on twitter . Visit us on linkedin . Visit us on youtube . Visit us on instagram . Visit us on threads. 244 Wood Street, Lexington, MA 02421-6426 Utility menu * Status * Visit * Contact * Privacy & Terms (c) 2025 Lincoln Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Back to top