4D – Printing of reversible stress-free semicrystalline shape-memory polymers
Natali D.1, Balk M.2, Gualandi C.4, Neffe A.3, Toma F.2, Toselli M. 1.
1 Department of Industrial Chemistry “Toso Montanari”, University of Bologna.Viale Risorgimento 4, 40136 Bologna (Italy).
2Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Institute of Functional Materials for Sustainability.Kantstrasse 55, 14513 Teltow (Germany).
3Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Institute of Material Chemistry, Universitätsplatz 1, 01968 Senftenberg (Germany).
4Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, University of Bologna.Via Selmi 2, 40126 Bologna (Italy).
Email: daniele.natali4@unibo.it
Our work introduces a thermo-sensitive shape-memory polymer based on methacrylated triblock copolymers of poly(-e-caprolacton) (PCL) and polybutylene succinate (PBS), processed via 3D printing in the molten state and photo cross-linking. Printing parameters were optimized through thermal and rheological analysis. The material exhibits reliable reversible shape changes between 10 °C and 55 °C. Complex and multi-layered structures were successfully printed while preserving full SMP functionality.