Design of Functional Fluorine-Containing Coatings for 3D-Printed Items

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Engineering
• Additive Manufacturing

Background:

• Controlling surface properties of 3D-printed polymers is crucial for functional applications.
• Existing methods for surface modification often lack precision or are unsuitable for complex geometries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel surface texture design technique for 3D-extruded prototypes.
• To investigate methods for controlling the hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance of polymer surfaces.
• To enhance functional properties such as wettability and reduce friction.

Main Methods:

• Utilized fused filament fabrication (FFF) to 3D print samples from ABS, TPU, PLA, and PETG.
• Employed 3D design and gas-phase fluorination to modify surface morphology and wettability.
• Measured distilled water and ethylene glycol contact angles to quantify wetting behavior.

Main Results:

• Surface texture design and fluorination effectively controlled surface hydrophobicity and hydrophilicity.
• Achieved anisotropic wetting, with contact angles varying significantly across the same sample surface.
• Demonstrated tunable hydrophilic/hydrophobic balance through controlled fluorination duration.
• Observed a reduction in the straining friction coefficient and increased wettability.

Conclusions:

• A combined approach of macroscopic 3D design and microscopic surface modification offers precise control over polymer surface properties.
• This technique enables the development of advanced 3D-printed products with tailored functional characteristics.
• The developed method is applicable to complex-shaped 3D-printed parts, expanding their potential applications.