Multi-material 4D printing employing stimuli-responsive polymer composites using vat photopolymerization

Vat photopolymerization presents a versatile platform for realising intricate 4D printed structures with dynamic functionalities. This study examines the use of the vat photopolymerization technique for 4D printing employing stimuli-responsive polymers via a novel multi-material printing approach. A...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fahad Alam, Nazek El-Atab
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2025-12-01
Series:Virtual and Physical Prototyping
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/17452759.2024.2444576
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Summary:Vat photopolymerization presents a versatile platform for realising intricate 4D printed structures with dynamic functionalities. This study examines the use of the vat photopolymerization technique for 4D printing employing stimuli-responsive polymers via a novel multi-material printing approach. As a potential application, the feasibility of printing encryptions with distinct layers comprising different responsive materials is explored, enabling activation through a combination of two or three stimuli. High-resolution structures with well-defined interfaces between the materials can be realised by leveraging the precision and versatility of vat photopolymerization. Shape-memory polymer-based 4D printed encryption exhibits selective activation when exposed to specific thermal (40 °C) and UV-light stimuli (405 nm), showing potential for advanced information storage, anti-counterfeiting, and camouflage writing applications. These findings highlight the capability of the proposed approach using vat photopolymerization to fabricate complex, stimulus-responsive constructs, fostering innovative applications in adaptive systems and smart devices.
ISSN:1745-2759
1745-2767