Material Compatibility in 4D Printing: Identifying the Optimal Combination for Programmable Multi-Material Structures

This study identifies the optimal combination of active and passive thermoplastic materials for producing multi-material programmable 3D structures. These structures can undergo shape changes with varying radii of curvature over time when exposed to hot water. The research focuses on examining the t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polymers 2024-07, Vol.16 (15), p.2138
Main Authors: Pivar, Matej, Vrabič-Brodnjak, Urška, Leskovšek, Mirjam, Gregor-Svetec, Diana, Muck, Deja
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
3-D printers
3D printing
ABS resins
Additive manufacturing
Dimensional stability
Effectiveness
Flexibility
Hangers
Humidity
Mechanical properties
Passive components
Polyethylene terephthalate
Polylactic acid
Polyvinyl alcohol
Printed materials
Production methods
Radius of curvature
Robotics
Shear strength
Storage modulus
Temperature
Thermomechanical properties
Thermoplastics
Three dimensional printing
Urethane thermoplastic elastomers
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Summary:This study identifies the optimal combination of active and passive thermoplastic materials for producing multi-material programmable 3D structures. These structures can undergo shape changes with varying radii of curvature over time when exposed to hot water. The research focuses on examining the thermal, thermomechanical, and mechanical properties of active (PLA) and passive (PRO-PLA, ABS, and TPU) materials. It also includes the experimental determination of the radius of curvature of the programmed 3D structures. The pairing of active PLA with passive PRO-PLA was found to be the most effective for creating complex programmable 3D structures capable of two-sided transformation. This efficacy is attributed to the adequate apparent shear strength, significant differences in thermomechanical shrinkage between the two materials, identical printing parameters for both materials, and the lowest bending storage modulus of PRO-PLA among the passive materials within the activation temperature range. Multi-material 3D printing has also proven to be a suitable method for producing programmable 3D structures for practical applications such as phone stands, phone cases, door hangers, etc. It facilitates the programming of the active material and ensures the dimensional stability of the passive components of programmable 3D structures during thermal activation.
ISSN:2073-4360
2073-4360
DOI:10.3390/polym16152138