Reconfigurable Polymer Networks for Digital Light Processing 3D Printing
Zizheng Fang, Yunpeng Shi, Yuhua Zhang, Qian Zhao, Jingjun Wu
Abstract
To realize a wide range of applications using three-dimensional (3D) printing, it is urgent to develop 3D printing resins with different functions. However, the design freedom of the resin formulation is greatly limited to guarantee fast gelation during 3D printing. Herein, we report a reconfigurable polymer network that is compatible with digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing. The properties of the printed objects can be remanipulated by post-thermal treatment, during which the polymer network undergoes significant changes through the amidation of ester. The Young's modulus could be significantly reduced by 50 times. Specifically, a well-printed rigid part can be completely turned into a low-viscosity liquid. This strategy decouples the printing process and the final material properties, providing an efficient approach to print various functional objects.