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Toughening 3D printed elastomers using mechanophore crosslinkers.

Ana Paula Kitos Vasconcelos1, Nicholas J Van Zee2, Allison Rattay1

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Cyclobutane mechanophores enhance 3D printed elastomers, improving toughness and tear resistance without sacrificing stiffness. This breakthrough allows for stronger, more durable materials in demanding applications.

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Area of Science:

  • Materials Science
  • Polymer Chemistry
  • Additive Manufacturing

Background:

  • Elastomeric materials are crucial in industries like automotive and biomedicine.
  • 3D printing offers customizability but often results in brittle polymer networks.
  • Existing toughening methods can reduce material stiffness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To enhance the toughness of 3D printed elastomers.
  • To investigate the use of cyclobutane-based mechanophores as crosslinks.
  • To achieve toughness improvement without compromising stiffness or appearance.

Main Methods:

  • Incorporated cyclobutane-based mechanophores as scissile covalent crosslinks.
  • Utilized a 1:1 substitution in poly(methoxyethylacrylate) networks.
  • Performed tensile and tearing tests to evaluate mechanical properties.

Main Results:

  • Mechanophore crosslinks significantly increased material toughness.
  • No compromise in stiffness or visual appearance was observed.
  • Enhanced tear resistance enabled bonding techniques like stitching and suturing.

Conclusions:

  • Cyclobutane mechanophores effectively toughen 3D printed elastomers.
  • This approach provides a viable method for creating durable, high-performance elastomeric materials.
  • Mechanophores represent a promising strategy for advancing 3D printed elastomer applications.