Particle‐Free Emulsions for 3D Printing Elastomers

Journal Article · Fri Mar 30 00:00:00 EDT 2018 · Advanced Functional Materials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.201707032· OSTI ID:1430587

Rauzan, Brittany M. ^[1]; Nelson, Arif Z. ^[2]; Lehman, Sean E. ^[1]; Ewoldt, Randy H. ^[2]; Nuzzo, Ralph G. ^[1]

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1. Department of Chemistry Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign 600 South Mathews Avenue Urbana IL 61801 USA
2. Department of Mechanical Science and Engineering Frederick Seitz Materials Research Laboratory University of Illinois at Urbana‐Champaign 1206 West Green Street Urbana IL 61801 USA

Abstract 3D printing is a rapidly growing field that requires the development of yield‐stress fluids that can be used in postprinting transformation processes. There is a limited number of yield‐stress fluids currently available with the desired rheological properties for building structures with small filaments (≤l00 µm) with high shape‐retention. A printing‐centric approach for 3D printing particle‐free silicone oil‐in‐water emulsions with a polymer additive, poly(ethylene oxide) is presented. This particular material structure and formulation is used to build 3D structure and to pattern at filament diameters below that of any other known material in this class. Increasing the molecular weight of poly(ethylene oxide) drastically increases the extensibility of the material without significantly affecting shear flow properties (shear yield stress and linear viscoelastic moduli). Higher extensibility of the emulsion correlates to the ability of filaments to span relatively large gaps (greater than 6 mm) when extruded at large tip diameters (330 µm) and the ability to extrude filaments at high print rates (20 mm s ⁻¹ ). 3D printed structures with these extensible particle‐free emulsions undergo postprinting transformation, which converts them into elastomers. These elastomers can buckle and recover from extreme compressive strain with no permanent deformation, a characteristic not native to the emulsion.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: DE‐FG02‐07ER46741
• OSTI ID: 1430587
• Journal Information: Advanced Functional Materials, Journal Name: Advanced Functional Materials Vol. 28 Journal Issue: 21; ISSN 1616-301X
• Publisher: Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
• Country of Publication: Germany
• Language: English