Amphiphilic, thixotropic additives for extrusion-based 3D printing of silica-reinforced silicone.

摘要: The ability to utilize extrusion-based, direct ink write (DIW) 3D printing create silica-reinforced silicones with complex structures could expand their utility in industrial and biomedical applications. Sylgard 184, a common Pt-cure silicone, lacks the thixotropic behavior necessary for effective its hydrophobicity renders cured susceptible biofouling. Herein, we evaluated efficacy of various PEO-silane amphiphiles (PEO-SAs) as surface modifying additives 184. Eight amphiphilic PEO-SAs varying architecture (e.g. linear, star, graft), crosslinkability, PEO content were evaluated. Modified formulations also prepared additional amounts silica filler, both hexamethyldisilazane (HMDS)-treated dimethyldichlorosilane (DiMeDi)-treated types. Numerous PEO-SA modified silicone demonstrated water-driven hydrophilicity that was generally diminished addition HMDS-treated filler. While increased yield stress observed added none achieved initial target (>1000 Pa). Only containing DiMeDi-treated filler (17.3 wt%) able surpass this value. These then tested properties all surpassed targets recovered storage modulus (G′) Pa) loss factor (<0.8). In particular, triblock linear produced exceptionally high G′, low factor, substantial restructuring form hydrophilic surface. Combined, these results demonstrate potential surface-modifying (SMAs) DIW