New photopolymerizable and 3D printable materials were investigated by simultaneous printing for obtaining a hybrid structure with new properties. SMP and UV-curing elastomer were used for this purpose. The SMP layer printing was carried out by heating the photopolymer and photopolymerizing the melt with 365 nanometers LED, parallel an photopolymer enabling elastomeric properties of stretching up to 11 times its original length was printed in the same structure.
Objectives:
The analysis of the properties was performed by measurement of samples with composed of different SMP: elastomer ratios in the hybrid structure. The preliminary results shows increase in Young`s modulus and strength of the hybrid structure and reduce in maximum extension and recovery speed as SMP concentration increase. In comparison to one-component structures, new properties have been received in the hybrid structure such as improved strength in an SMP structure and having shape memory property in an elastomer structure.
Currently, 3D printing enables printing of multi materials by various techniques. The majority of the methods enables printing of propriety materials and not investigation of synthesized materials by the user. The work was performed by utilizing a 3D printer where 4 printing heads can be used simultaneously. The printing head can also be differentiated by the deposition technique such as: melting, photopolymerization and dispensing, at the temperature range of 35-450˚C and few wavelengths – 365 and 405 nanometers.