Green Design of Renewable Dual-Curing Polymers with Self-Healing and Recyclable Networks for 3D Printing

Autor(es)

Alarcon, Rafael T. ; Cellai, Alberto ; Porcarello, Matilde ; Solle, Bernhard ; Rossegger, Elisabeth ; Schmitt, Carla C. ; Sangermano, Marco

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING; v. 13, n. 38, p. 18-pg., 2025-09-15.

Resumo

This work presents a green design approach for a novel class of dual-curing, self-healing polymers derived from vegetable oils for additive manufacturing. The polymer network is constructed from methacrylated and epoxidized monomers derived through environmentally friendly transformations, allowing for UV-curing radical polymerization followed by thermal curing via acid-epoxy reactions. The resulting materials exhibit self-healing behavior, supporting thermal reprocessing and chemical recycling via transesterification. Designed for circularity, polymers containing the vegetable oil derivatives-methacrylated and epoxidized-reached a biobased content of up to 98% and a biobased carbon content above 77%, far exceeding industry standards. The materials also display alkaline hydrolytic degradation, aligning with end-of-life strategies under a circular economy model. Dual-curing systems achieved an epoxy conversion of over 90% and gel contents above 97%, resulting in stable polymer networks suitable for reprocessing. The formulations were successfully processed using 3D printing platforms, producing well-defined structures despite viscosities exceeding the ideal printability window. The system containing the maleinized/methacrylated grapeseed oil and epoxidized castor oil showed the most favorable behavior, with lower overcuring and the lowest critical energy (37 mJ cm- 2). Successful printing confirms the applicability of these systems. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 21/14879-0 - Novo método para síntese de polihidróxiuretanos a partir de triacilglicerol e utilizando catalisadores ou triacilmelamina, visando inibir reações paralelas
• Beneficiário: Rafael Turra Alarcon
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 24/03936-1 - Síntese e exploração de resinas fotocuráveis renováveis para impressão 3D
• Beneficiário: Rafael Turra Alarcon
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Pós-Doutorado