Multimaterial 3D Printing in Activating Bath Enables In Situ Polymerization of Thermosets with Intricate Geometries and Diverse Elastic Behaviors.

ABSTRACT: Polydicyclopentadiene, p(DCPD), is a high-performance thermoset valued for its exceptional toughness, strength, and stiffness. When copolymerized with 1,5-cyclooctadiene (COD), its mechanical properties can be tuned from glassy to rubbery at room temperature. While frontal polymerization enables a rapid and energy-efficient route to 3D print DCPD-based materials, challenges such as ink shelf life and gravitational distortion, especially in direct ink writing of soft COD-rich formulations, must be considered. Here, a complementary chemical strategy is presented, embedded 3D printing, that enables localized in situ polymerization of printed DCPD/COD inks within a reactive support matrix. The matrix provides both physical support and a reservoir of chemical activator, which diffuses into the

SUBMITTER: Lee YB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12574649 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature