3D Printing of Highly Stretchable, Shape-Memory, and Self-Healing Elastomer toward Novel 4D Printing

• DOI: 10.1021/acsami.7b18265
• Publication Date: 2018-02-05T15:16:56Z
• Authors: Xiao Kuang; Kaijuan Chen; Conner K. Dunn; Jiangtao Wu; Vincent C. F. Li; H. Jerry Qi
• Keywords: Soft Robotics; Stretchable electronics; Shape-memory polymer; Smart material; 3d printed; Flexible Electronics

The three-dimensional (3D) printing of flexible and stretchable materials with smart functions such as shape memory (SM) self-healing (SH) is highly desirable for the development future 4D technology myriad applications, soft actuators, deployable medical devices, electronics. Here, we report a novel ink that can be used 3D stretchable, SM, SH elastomer via UV-light-assisted direct-ink-write printing. An containing urethane diacrylate linear semicrystalline polymer developed semi-interpenetrating network stretched by up to 600%. 3D-printed complex structures show interesting functional properties, high strain SM -assisted capability. We demonstrate has potential application biomedical vascular repair devices. This research paves new way further printing, robotics,