DLP 4D-Printing of Remotely, Modularly, and Selectively Controllable Shape Memory Polymer Nanocomposites Embedding Carbon Nanotubes

Alejandro Cortés, Andrea Cosola, Marco Sangermano, Mónica Campo, Silvia González Prolongo, Candido Fabrizio Pirri, Alberto Jiménez-Suárez, Annalisa Chiappone

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

An in-depth investigation on novel electro-activated shape memory polymer composites (SMPCs) for digital light processing 3D-Printing, consisting of a poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate/poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) matrix embedding multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), is reported here. The composition of the photocurable (meth)acrylate system is finely tuned to tailor the thermomechanical properties of the matrix, whereas the effect of CNTs on the photoreactivity and rheological properties of the formulations is investigated to assess the printability. Electrical measurements confirmed that the incorporation of CNT into the polymeric matrix enables the electrical conductivity and thus the possibility to remotely heat the nanocomposite using the Joule effect. The feasibility to drive a shape memory cycle via Joule heating is proved, given that the high shape fixity (Rf) and shape recovery (Rr) ratios achieved (Rf ≈ 100%, Rr > 95%) confirmed the significant electrically-triggered responsiveness of such CNT/SMPCs. Finally, it is shown how to activate a modular and selective electro-activated shape recovery, which may ultimately envisage the 4D-Printing of remotely and selectively controllable smart devices.

Original languageEnglish
Article number2106774
JournalAdvanced Functional Materials
Volume31
Issue number50
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2021
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 4D printing
  • carbon nanotubes
  • digital light processing
  • electro-activated composites, shape memory polymer

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