Natural rubber

Elastomer

Curing (chemistry)

Vulcanization

Materials science

Ultimate tensile strength

Methacrylate

Polymer

Acrylate

Composite material

Thermosetting polymer

Monomer

Polymer science

UV curing

Glycidyl methacrylate

ACS Applied Polymer Materials

Current UV-curable resins based on acrylate or methacrylate monomers are mostly derived from nonrenewable petroleum feedstocks, and the cured resins are not easily repairable or reprocessable due to the stable cross-linked network. In this work, bio-based UV-curable dimethacrylate compounds are synthesized via reaction of the vegetable oil-derived dimer acid with glycidyl methacrylate. The length and flexibility of the chain segment between the two methacrylate groups are manipulated to tune the properties of the cross-linked polymer materials. The UV-cured materials exhibit a tensile strength of up to 9.2 MPa and an elongation at break of up to 66.4%. At elevated temperatures (>160 °C), the thermally induced dynamic transesterification reaction (DTER) between hydroxyl groups and ester bonds in the network structure provides repairability to the material. Use of the UV resin for three-dimensional (3D) printing is demonstrated. The printed objects exhibit unique welding and shape-changing properties owing to the thermally induced DTER. This work integrates the concepts of UV curing, vitrimer preparation, 3D printing, and bio-based polymers, demonstrating a feasible approach for the sustainable design of polymer materials.

From Glassy Plastic to Ductile Elastomer: Vegetable Oil-Based UV-Curable Vitrimers and Their Potential Use in 3D Printing