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Optimization of Extrusion Three-Dimensional Printing Liquid Silicone Rubber: Managing Thermal History and
Ernan Ju1,2, Xinxin Li3, Li Wu2
1School of Intelligence & Electronic Engineering, Dalian Neusoft University of Information, Dalian, Liaoning 116023, China.
ACS Omega
|May 4, 2026
Summary
This study introduces 3D printing for liquid silicone rubber (LSR) wearable devices, enhancing precision and complex structures. Optimized SiO2/PEG/LSR ink offers superior performance, improving tensile strength by 72.96% and achieving 98.5% line width accuracy.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Liquid silicone rubber (LSR) is crucial for flexible circuit boards in wearable devices.
- Traditional processing limits molding precision and complex structure fabrication for LSR.
- Three-dimensional (3D) printing presents a novel approach for advanced LSR device manufacturing.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the impact of internal temperature on LSR curing time during 3D printing.
- To analyze printing performance and mechanical properties of modified LSR inks.
- To optimize material ratios for enhanced 3D printable LSR formulations.
Main Methods:
- Investigated three LSR inks: SiO2/PEG/LSR, PEG/LSR, and pure LSR.
- Conducted orthogonal experiments to optimize material compositions.
- Applied the entropy weight method for comprehensive evaluation of printability and mechanical properties.
Main Results:
- The SiO2/PEG/LSR ink demonstrated superior performance at an optimal printing temperature of 25 °C.
- Achieved 98.5% line width accuracy and a 72.96% increase in tensile strength compared to pure LSR.
- Optimized material ratio identified as LSR:PEG:SiO2 = 300:30:1 by weight, with LSR dosage being most significant.
Conclusions:
- Integrating thermal history with material modification effectively enhances extrusion-based 3D printing performance for LSR.
- 3D printing enables precise fabrication of complex LSR structures for wearable devices.
- The optimized SiO2/PEG/LSR formulation significantly improves mechanical properties while maintaining processability.
