Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to prove and qualify the influence of textured surface substrates morphology and chemical composition on the growth and propagation of transplanted corals. Use additive manufacturing and silicone moulds for converting three-dimensional samples into limestone mortar with white Portland cement substrates for coral growth.

Design/methodology/approach

Tiles samples were designed and printed with different geometries and textures inspired by nature marine environment. Commercial coral frag tiles were analysed through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to identify the main chemical elements. Raw materials and coral species were selected. New base substrates were manufactured and deployed into a closed-circuit aquarium to monitor the coral weekly evolution process and analyse the results obtained.

Findings

Experimental results provided positive statistical parameters for future implementation tests, concluding that the intensity of textured surface, interfered favourably in the coralline algae biofilm growth. The chemical composition and design of the substrates were determinant factors for successful coral propagation. Recesses and cavities mimic the natural rocks aspect and promoted the presence and interaction of other species that favour the richness of the ecosystem.

Originality/value

Additive manufacturing provided an innovative method of production for ecology restoration areas, allowing rapid prototyping of substrates with high complexity morphologies, a critical and fundamental attribute to guarantee coral growth and Crustose Coralline Algae. The result of this study showed the feasibility of this approach using three-dimensional printing technologies.

中文翻译：

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3D 打印机启用的表面形态和成分对人工鱼礁珊瑚生长的影响

目的

本文的目的是证明和限定纹理表面基质形态和化学成分对移植珊瑚的生长和繁殖的影响。使用增材制造和硅胶模具将 3D 样品转化为石灰石砂浆，白色波特兰水泥基材用于珊瑚生长。

设计/方法/方法

瓷砖样品的设计和印刷具有受自然海洋环境启发的不同几何形状和纹理。通过扫描电子显微镜 (SEM) 分析商业珊瑚碎片瓷砖以识别主要化学元素。选择了原材料和珊瑚物种。制造新的基底并将其部署到闭路水族箱中，以监测珊瑚每周的进化过程并分析获得的结果。

发现

实验结果为未来的实施测试提供了积极的统计参数，结论是纹理表面的强度对珊瑚藻生物膜的生长产生了有利的干扰。基质的化学成分和设计是珊瑚成功繁殖的决定因素。凹槽和空腔模仿天然岩石方面，并促进了有利于生态系统丰富性的其他物种的存在和相互作用。

原创性/价值

增材制造为生态恢复区提供了一种创新的生产方法，允许快速成型具有高度复杂形态的基质，这是保证珊瑚生长和硬壳珊瑚藻的关键和基本属性。这项研究的结果显示了这种方法使用 3D 打印技术的可行性。