Issue 2, 2019

A general strategy of 3D printing thermosets for diverse applications

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) printing offers great potential to customize sophisticated constructs for a myriad of applications. However, many thermosets require long-term curing under harsh conditions, which is not compatible with rapid 3D printing processing. 3D printing of these thermosets remains a challenge. Here, we report a new strategy for direct 3D printing of various thermosets via readily available extrusion-based technology using sacrificial sodium chloride particles as a removable thickener for printing and a reinforcer for curing, exemplified by crosslinked polyester, polyurethane and epoxy resins. Specifically, the 3D constructs exhibited hierarchical and porous architectures, which are highly desired for many applications, including regenerative medicine, sensors, actuators, catalyst supports, and energy absorbers. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, we 3D printed vapomechanical sensors and actuators featuring fast, large, robust, and gradient responsiveness, in addition to biodegradable scaffolds to promote vascularization and tissue ingrowth in vivo and elastic myocardial patches to efficiently treat myocardial infarction. We expect that this study will pave a new way to tailor sophisticated 3D structures of thermosets and will be very useful for diverse applications.

Graphical abstract: A general strategy of 3D printing thermosets for diverse applications

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
07 Aug 2018
Accepted
05 Nov 2018
First published
08 Nov 2018

Mater. Horiz., 2019,6, 394-404

A general strategy of 3D printing thermosets for diverse applications

D. Lei, Y. Yang, Z. Liu, S. Chen, B. Song, A. Shen, B. Yang, S. Li, Z. Yuan, Q. Qi, L. Sun, Y. Guo, H. Zuo, S. Huang, Q. Yang, X. Mo, C. He, B. Zhu, E. M. Jeffries, F. Qing, X. Ye, Q. Zhao and Z. You, Mater. Horiz., 2019, 6, 394 DOI: 10.1039/C8MH00937F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements