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Development of Smart Photocrosslinkable Epoxy-Based Inks for 4D Printing
Tarun Agarwal1, Shengbo Guo1, Shuaiqi Song1
1Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.
Advanced Healthcare Materials
|July 1, 2025
Summary
New 4D printing inks combine photocuring and thermocuring for shape memory polymers (SMPs). This innovation allows for complex 3D structures and versatile fabrication methods beyond traditional mold casting.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- 4D printing utilizes stimuli-responsive materials for shape transformation.
- Epoxy-based shape memory polymers (SMPs) are promising for 4D printing but are limited by thermocuring and mold casting.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop novel photocurable 4D printing inks based on epoxy SMPs.
- To enable complex shape fabrication and versatile printing techniques.
Main Methods:
- Integration of polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PD) into epoxy-based materials.
- Development of a two-step crosslinking process: photocuring of PD and thermocuring of SMP.
- Formation of an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN).
Main Results:
- The developed inks enable complex shape formation through restructuring.
- Mechanical properties and thermal responsiveness can be fine-tuned.
- Versatile fabrication techniques including mold casting, photolithography, and stereolithography (SLA) are supported.
Conclusions:
- The novel photocurable 4D inks overcome limitations of traditional epoxy SMPs.
- These inks facilitate the creation of intricate 4D printed constructs with tunable properties.
- The technology broadens fabrication possibilities for advanced 4D printing applications.
