3D printing of flexible and stretchable materials with smart functions such as shape memory and self-healing is highly desirable for the development of future 4D printing technology for myriad applications, such as soft actuators, deployable smart medical devices, and flexible electronics. Here, we report a novel ink that can be used for 3D printing of highly stretchable, shape memory and self-healing elastomer via UV light assisted direct-ink-write (DIW) printing. An ink containing urethane diacrylate and a linear semi-crystalline polymer is developed for 3D printing of a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (semi-IPN) elastomer that can be stretched by up to 600%. The 3D printed complex structures show interesting functional properties, such as high strain shape memory and shape memory assisted self-healing capability. We demonstrate that such a 3D printed shape memory elastomer has the potential application for biomedical devices, such as vascular repair devices. This research paves a new way for the further development of novel 4D printing, soft robotics, and biomedical devices.

3D printing of highly stretchable, shape-memory and self-healing elastomer toward novel 4d printing

2019 Spring National Meeting

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