A 3D printing UV-curing resin that enables continuous color change of elastomers

This study introduces a UV-curing resin leveraging the Christiansen effect to achieve dynamic color modulation in phase-separated elastomers (PSE) through solvent composition and temperature control. By matching refractive indices between solvent (dimethyl phthalate/tributyl citrate) and polymer phases, PSE selectively transmits-specific wavelengths, enabling continuous color shifts from red to purple. The elastomers exhibit robust mechanical properties (>600% elongation, >300 kPa modulus) and function across a broad temperature range (-25°C-130°C). Compatible with 3D printing, the resin enables real-time solvent adjustments during fabrication, supporting spatially continuous color transitions without parameter modifications. This approach advances applications in adaptive optical devices, temperature-responsive displays, and multi-material 3D printing, offering a dye-free strategy for structural coloration in smart materials.

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Publication Details

Journal
iScience
Published
2025-06-09
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2025.112867
Primary Topic
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A 3D printing UV-curing resin that enables continuous color change of elastomers

Qihao Jiang, Yiyang Gao, Yanming Liu
iScience
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
article

A 3D printing UV-curing resin that enables continuous color change of elastomers

Qihao Jiang, Yiyang Gao, Yanming Liu
article en

Abstract

This study introduces a UV-curing resin leveraging the Christiansen effect to achieve dynamic color modulation in phase-separated elastomers (PSE) through solvent composition and temperature control. By matching refractive indices between solvent (dimethyl phthalate/tributyl citrate) and polymer phases, PSE selectively transmits-specific wavelengths, enabling continuous color shifts from red to purple. The elastomers exhibit robust mechanical properties (>600% elongation, >300 kPa modulus) and function across a broad temperature range (-25°C-130°C). Compatible with 3D printing, the resin enables real-time solvent adjustments during fabrication, supporting spatially continuous color transitions without parameter modifications. This approach advances applications in adaptive optical devices, temperature-responsive displays, and multi-material 3D printing, offering a dye-free strategy for structural coloration in smart materials.

iScienceVol. 28(7)
Xidian University (CN)
University of Edinburgh, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province
Openalex Percentile: Top 87%
Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies
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