Study on the healing performance of poly(ε-caprolactone) filled ultraviolet-curable 3D printed cyclic trimethylolpropane formal acrylate shape memory polymers

Abstract

The research and application of ultraviolet-curable 3D printed shape memory polymers have been focused on artificial intelligence, bionic engineering, and medical devices, and so forth. However, this photopolymer has the disadvantages of low toughness and easy to be damaged. As a healing agent and toughening agent, the thermoplastic polymer polycaprolactone (PCL) is used to improve the utility value of 3D printed cyclic trimethylolpropane formal acrylate (CTFA) shape memory composites. The filling content of PCL is evaluated through multiscale observation, mechanical test, thermal analysis and comparison before and after healing. PCL with 5% filling content not only improves the flexibility and scratch healing ability of 3D printed samples, but also maintains the shape memory characteristics of the samples. The blending structure constructed by PCL and CTFA polymers plays an important role in balancing the various properties of the 3D printed composites.