Photo-Curing3dprinting Robust Elastomers With Ultralow Viscosity Resin

Photosensitive resins with ultralow viscosity suitable for the silicone-based elastomers by 3D printing were reported. Based on the facile one-pot strategy which involved photo-polymerization of hydroxyethyl acrylate (HEA) and sol-gel transition process of methyltrimethoxysilane (MTMS), silicone-based elastomers with tunable mechanical properties could be obtained by adjusting the ratio of HEA and MTMS as needed. Due to the physically cross-linked network formed by hydrogen bonds between hydroxyl group of polyhydroxypropyl acrylate (PHEA) and the chemically cross-linked network formed by MTMS, the stress and strain of printed elastomers reached 3.75 MPa and 205% respectively demonstrating its performance has reached the average level of already reported photo-curable elastomers. The photosensitive resins with high curing rate and low viscosity are suitable for 3D printing technique.