SLA printing of shape memory bio-based composites consisting of soybean oil and cellulose nanocrystals
Beizhi Chu, Xin Cui, Xing Dong, Yu Li, Xueqing Liu, Zhan Guo, Yumin Xia, Shuohan Huang, Jianming Zhang, Yuwei Chen
Abstract
Improving the sustainability and processability of shape memory composites is key to expanding their applications. This work introduces a novel bio-based shape memory composite resin with renewable cellulose nanocrystals, suitable for stereolithography (SLA) printing. We prepared epoxy soybean oil-based composites by incorporating Itaconic acid monomethyl ester (IAME) modified cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs-IAME) into IAME modified epoxy soybean oil (IESO). The CNCs-IAME/IESO composite resin, with a viscosity of 1.01–1.22 Pa•s, is ideal for SLA printing. Adding 0.75 wt% CNCs-IAME particles enhances mechanical properties, yielding a tensile strength of 19.54 MPa and elongation at a break of 34.03%. Demonstrated applications include flexible supports and temperature-responsive sensors. This innovative composite offers excellent sustainability and SLA-printability, showing great potential for new bio-based heat-activated shape memory materials.