A rubber toughened two-part epoxy with tunable mechanical performance and shape memory behavior has been fabricated into complex architectures by 3D printing. The static mixing head enables 3D printing of commercial epoxy without the use of expensive latent agent. The Addition of CNT effectively modifies the rheology of epoxy resin into thixotropic ink that can be 3D printed in high quality by direct ink writing. Epoxide terminated rubber is incorporated , which crosslinks together with the epoxy base resin, and significantly improves the toughness and elasticity of epoxy. The soft molecular chain of rubber between epoxy crosslinking site also lowers the Tg, thus changes the shape memory temperature. By adding different amount of rubber, not only Tg of epoxy can be well controlled, the mechanical performance can also be tuned in large range, from stiff and brittle to soft and tough. By printing two materials with different Tg together, object with duo-scale shape memory properties has been fabricated.<br/>

3D printing of rubber toughened epoxy with tunable mechanical properties and shape memory behavior

2019 Fall National Meeting

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