The Characterization of Polymers That Mimic the Aortic Wall’s Mechanical Properties and Their Suitability for Use in the 3D Printing of Aortic Phantoms

Abstract

(1) While three-dimensional (3D) printing technology is increasingly being used for the fabrication of high-fidelity, patient-specific aortic models, data on the mechanical properties of polymers are sparse. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify suitable polymers for this purpose. (2) Methods: Eight flexible polymers, with Shore A hardnesses (ShA) of 27–85, were tested to determine their suitability for PolyJet printing technology. They were tested against porcine aortic and bovine pericardial tissue for suture retention strength, uniaxial stress testing according to ISO 37, and burst pressure in a standardized test setting. (3) Results: The polymers with a ShA of 30–50 showed statistically non-inferior suture retention strength, tensile strength, and burst pressure resistance when compared to pericardial and aortic tissue, respectively. (4) Conclusions: This was the first report to analyze the mechanical properties of eight different flexible PolyJet polymers. We found that the polymers with a Shore A hardness of 30–50 most closely mimicked the mechanical properties of aortic tissue. Therefore, they can be recommended for the additive manufacturing (3D printing) of aortic phantoms for simulation and training purposes.