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.
Authors
- Qihao Jiang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0624-1185)
- Yiyang Gao (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5318-0696)
- Yanming Liu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5522-1682)
Institutions
- Xidian University (CN)
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
Funders
- University of Edinburgh
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
- Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province