Evaluation of materials for 4D printing of shape memory polymers and composites

Abstract

This is a two part project that looks into evaluating the properties of different formulated materials. In the first part, Epoxidized Acrylate Soybean Oil (EASO), a sustainable material, is mixed with Phenylbis(2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl)phosphine oxide (BAPO) and Trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) to see if it can be used as a substitute to existing shape memory polymer formulations. Formulations of different monomer ratios and photoinitiator weight percentages are created and 3D printed into tensile bars, which tensile and differential scanning calorimetry tests are conducted on for evaluation. In the second part, Formlabs commercial resin is mixed with Isobornyl Acrylate (IBOA) and different nanofillers to see if resin properties are enhanced. Similar to the first part, tensile bars of the formulations are 3D printed and undergo tensile, hardness and thermogravimetric analysis tests. Rate of curing of formulations are also discussed for both parts.