Authors
Marshall J Allen, Hsu‐Ming Lien, Nathaniel Prine, Carter Burns, Adrian K Rylski, Xiaodan Gu, Lewis M Cox, Filippo Mangolini, Benny D Freeman, Zachariah A Page
Publication date
2023/3
Journal
Advanced Materials
Volume
35
Issue
9
Pages
2210208
Description
Access to multimaterial polymers with spatially localized properties and robust interfaces is anticipated to enable new capabilities in soft robotics, such as smooth actuation for advanced medical and manufacturing technologies. Here, orthogonal initiation is used to create interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) with spatial control over morphology and mechanical properties. Base catalyzes the formation of a stiff and strong polyurethane, while blue LEDs initiate the formation of a soft and elastic polyacrylate. IPN morphology is controlled by when the LED is turned “on”, with large phase separation occurring for short time delays (≈1–2 min) and a mixed morphology for longer time delays (>5 min), which is supported by dynamic mechanical analysis, small angle X‐ray scattering, and atomic force microscopy. Through tailoring morphology, tensile moduli and fracture toughness can be tuned across ≈1–2 orders of …
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