Engineering applications of current thermoset shape memory polymers are limited by three critical issues: demanding fabrication conditions (from 70 to 300 °C temperatures for hours or days), lack of reprocessability or recyclability, and low recovery stress and energy output. To address these problems simultaneously, a new UV curable and vitrimer-based epoxy thermoset shape memory polymer (VSMP) has been synthesized. A 1.1 mm thick VSMP film can be readily cured at room temperature under UV-irradiation (61 mW cm −2 ) in just 80 s. It possesses 36.7 MPa tensile strength, 230 MPa compressive strength, and 3120 MPa modulus at room temperature. It still has a compressive strength of 187 MPa at 120 °C. The covalent adaptable network (CAN) imparts the VSMP with recyclability, as reflected by two effective recycling cycles (>60% recycling efficiency). In addition, the VSMP exhibits good shape memory properties for multiple shape recovery cycles. With 20% compression programming strain, up to 13.4 MPa stable recovery stress and 1.05 MJ m −3 energy output in the rubbery state are achieved. With good mechanical strength, thermal stability, recyclability, and excellent shape memory properties combined with in situ UV-curing capabilities, the new VSMP is a promising multifunctional thermoset for engineering applications.
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4D Printing of Recyclable Lightweight Architectures Using High Recovery Stress Shape Memory Polymer
High-performance lightweight architectures, such as metallic microlattices with excellent mechanical properties have been 3D printed, but they do not possess shape memory effect (SME), limiting their usages for advanced engineering structures, such as serving as a core in multifunctional lightweight sandwich structures. 3D printable self-healing shape memory polymer (SMP) microlattices could be a solution. However, existing 3D printable thermoset SMPs are limited to either low strength, poor stress memory, or non-recyclability. To address this issue, a new thermoset polymer, integrated with high strength, high recovery stress, perfect shape recovery, good recyclability, and 3D printability using direct light printing, has been developed in this study. Lightweight microlattices with various unit cells and length scales were printed and tested. The results show that the cubic microlattice has mechanical strength comparable to or even greater than that of metallic microlattices, good SME, decent recovery stress, and recyclability, making it the first multifunctional lightweight architecture (MLA) for potential multifunctional lightweight load carrying structural applications.
more » « less- Award ID(s):
- 1736136
- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10154007
- Publisher / Repository:
- Nature Publishing Group
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Scientific Reports
- Volume:
- 9
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2045-2322
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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