Additive Manufacturing of Information Carriers Based on Shape Memory Polyester Urethane

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are stimuli-responsive materials capable of recovering their original shape upon external stimuli like heat.
• Quick response (QR) codes are utilized in anti-counterfeiting technologies.
• Previous manufacturing methods for SMP-based QR code carriers were time-consuming.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel, time-efficient manufacturing method for thermoresponsive QR code carriers using SMPs.
• To investigate the use of fused filament fabrication (FFF) for creating complex SMP structures.
• To demonstrate the shape memory effect for transforming non-decodable to machine-readable QR codes.

Main Methods:

• Extrusion of polyester urethane (PEU) filaments, with and without dye.
• Processing of PEU filaments into QR code carriers using fused filament fabrication (FFF).
• Programming the shape memory properties and applying heat as a stimulus for shape recovery.

Main Results:

• Successful fabrication of QR code carriers using FFF with adjustable print resolution.
• Demonstration of the shape memory effect, enabling a transition from non-decodable to machine-readable QR codes upon heating.
• PEU filaments, both with and without dye, were effectively processed.

Conclusions:

• Fused filament fabrication (FFF) is a promising additive manufacturing technology for producing complex, filigree structures with SMPs.
• This novel method offers a more efficient production process for SMP-based QR code carriers.
• The demonstrated thermoresponsive behavior opens possibilities for advanced applications of SMPs.