Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Rapid and Low-cost Prototyping of Medical Devices Using 3D Printed Molds for Liquid Injection Molding
Published on: June 27, 2014
Effects of mold rising angle and polymer concentration in solvent-assisted molding
Sung-Hoon Lee1, Hong-Nam Kim, Rho-Kyun Kwak
1School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, World Class University Program on Multiscale Mechanical Design, Seoul National University, Seoul, 151-742, Korea.
Abstract:
We investigated the capillary rise of a thin polymer solution in a simple soft lithographic technique termed "solvent-assisted molding (SAMo)" by using various mold rising angles and polymer concentrations in a good solvent. For patterning and mold materials, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA, M(w) = 120,000) in toluene and poly(dimethyl siloxane) (PDMS) were mostly used. It was found that the capillary rise takes place in two steps: (i) a low-viscosity polymer solution rapidly rises into the cavity (<10 s) with the aid of solvent wetting and (ii) continuous solvent absorption into the mold and evaporation into air. In addition, five distinct microstructures were observed by testing 24 different experimental combinations, which can be classified into completely molded (I), humped (II), completely molded but non-fully filled (III), partially filled (IV), and partially filled meniscal (V) microstructures.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers I
Determination of Molar Masses of Polymers II
Molecular Weight of Step-Growth Polymers
As the step-growth polymerization involves step-wise condensation of monomers, the molecular weight also builds up eventually. Consequently, high molecular weight polymers are obtained at the late stages of the polymerization, where 99% of monomers have been consumed.
The extent of the...
Step-Growth Polymerization: Overview
Many natural and synthetic polymers are produced by...
Polymer Classification: Stereospecificity
Olefin Metathesis Polymerization: Overview
Ruthenium-based Grubbs catalyst is the most commonly used catalyst for olefin metathesis polymerization. Grubbs catalyst consists of a...

