Abstract
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.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | e2444576 |
Journal | Virtual and Physical Prototyping |
Volume | 20 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2025 |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords
- 4D printing
- Multi-materials
- polymer composites
- shape-memory polymer
- stimuli-responsive
- vat-photopolymerization
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Signal Processing
- Modeling and Simulation
- Computer Graphics and Computer-Aided Design
- Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering