Self-healing materials are being developed at the Rochester Institute of Technology and RIT’s College of Engineering Technology to reinforce the quality and strength of 3D-printed products.
Using liquid resins as part of a stimuli-responsive photopolymer solution, Christopher Lewis and a research team at RIT are applying the resins to make repairs to 3D-printed products immediately as damage occurs. Using lithography, the resins provide layer-by-layer repairs as needed to boost the strength and resilience of a 3D-printed product.
Associate Professor Lewis (see image above) compared the need for self-healing solutions in 3D printing to bodily functions: “When you break a bone, or cut yourself, we take it for granted that there is a self-repairing mechanism that allows for bones or skin to rejuvenate themselves, at least to some extent.”
He added, “We also learn that it is not true for synthetic materials or man-made objects. And our work in self-healing materials is a futuristic look at how we can develop systems that mimic those natural material properties.”
Because many of the materials used in 3D printing are applied for load-bearing applications, they tend to be brittle. To overcome cracking that can occur in these materials, the research team has pursued some form of additive that could reinforce the cracked area.
The team found that by combining a thermoplastic agent with an ultraviolet-curable resin, they could create a blend capable of reinforcing the cracked areas. Due to the liquid resin’s sensitivity to light, it's processed by ultraviolet (UV) polymerization to maintain consistency and control.
