Simultaneous Color- and Dose-Controlled Thiol-Ene Resins for Multimodulus 3D Printing with Programmable Interfacial...

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Synthetic multimaterial structures offer advanced properties but face manufacturing challenges.
• Efficient chemistries and processing methods are needed for precise multimaterial fabrication.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a photocurable resin with color-selective initiators for controlled polymerization.
• To enable the 3D printing of multimaterial structures with tunable mechanical properties.

Main Methods:

• Development of a photocurable resin with dual-curing capabilities triggered by different light wavelengths (UV and violet).
• Utilizing color-selective initiators to control polymerization mechanisms (radical chain-growth vs. anionic step-growth).
• Employing digital light processing 3D printing with grayscale control for gradient material properties.

Main Results:

• The resin forms rigid (UV light) or soft (violet light) networks with moduli spanning two orders of magnitude.
• Programmable stiffness gradients were achieved with significant modulus changes across interfaces.
• Demonstrated biomimetic structures mimicking human knee entheses and squid beaks.

Conclusions:

• The developed photocurable resin and 3D printing method allow for precise fabrication of multimaterial objects with tailored mechanical properties.
• This technology offers a pathway for advanced manufacturing of next-generation materials for healthcare, education, and beyond.