3D Printing of Electrically Conductive Objects with Biobased Polyglycerol Acrylic Monomers

Abstract

The development of biobased resins for 3D printing has gained importance in recent years, driven by urgent environmental issues confronting our planet. The derivatives of biobased glycerol represent a promising alternative to fossil fuels, holding a central position in the field of polymer synthesis. In this background, polyglycerol-based acrylic monomers were synthesized by Sakamoto Yakuhin Kogyo Co., Ltd. (Osaka, Japan). These monomers, which include acrylic groups, are sensitive to UV light, and hence can be processed via photopolymerization and VAT polymerization techniques. Reactivity and rheological properties of the monomers were studied. Further, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were added in different weight percentages to investigate the electrical conductivity properties. Finally, the formulations incorporating CNTs were processed via a Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printer for an assessment of their printability.