Collaborative Research: Localized Frontal Curing-Assisted 3D Printing of Thermosetting Polymers

合作研究：热固性聚合物局部正面固化辅助3D打印

• 批准号: 1933679
• 负责人: Jingjing Qiu
• 金额: $ 9.66万
• 依托单位: Texas Tech University
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2019
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2019-10-01 至 2023-01-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1933679&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Collaborative; Research; Localized; Frontal; Curing

This award supports a collaborative research project on a novel 3D printing method for thermosetting polymers, localized frontal curing-assisted 3D printing. Thermosetting polymers are widely used in aircraft, space shuttles, cars, boats, bridges, furniture, and so on. Currently available methods to manufacture thermosetting polymer parts include conventional molding and newly-developed mold-free 3D printing. These methods involve two steps: deposition processing and post-processing curing that are both energy-intensive and time-consuming. In localized frontal curing-assisted 3D printing, deposition and curing are completed simultaneously in a one-step process. An external heat source is used to initialize the curing process and the heat produced by the exothermic curing reaction enables curing to self-propagate through the material as it is deposited. The new method has the potential to impact product design, assembly, and the manufacture of products using thermosetting polymers. As a result it could potentially lead to significant changes and increased competitiveness in many industries of national interest, such as the automotive, aerospace, and marine industries. This project will engage graduate and undergraduate students in the research activities thus preparing them for the advanced manufacturing workforce. Outreach activities based on the research will be used at high school summer camps and for online videos to educate students and the general public about advanced manufacturing. There are four research objectives: (1) to determine effects of curing agent concentration and printing slice size on frontal velocity and front propagation distance; (2) to understand relationships between localized frontal velocity, viscoelastic behavior of thermosetting resins, and geometric fidelity of printed structures; (3) to test the hypothesis that a specific range of frontal velocity will result in higher interlayer bonding strength; and (4) to reveal effects of localized frontal velocity on the mechanical performance of printed structures. To achieve these objectives, the research team will employ both theoretical and experimental approaches. Specifically, effects of curing agent structures and concentration on frontal curing velocity and front propagation distance will be modelled and simulated based on the reaction kinetics and then verified by high-resolution infrared camera. Viscoelastic behavior of thermosetting resins will be studied via real-time rheology characterization and data fitting. Effects of frontal velocity on interlayer bonding strength and mechanical performance of printed structures will be revealed by experimental tests and statistical analysis.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.

该奖项支持用于用于热固性聚合物的新型3D打印方法的协作研究项目，局部额叶辅助辅助3D打印。热固性聚合物被广泛用于飞机，航天飞机，汽车，船，桥，家具等。当前生产热固性聚合物零件的方法包括常规成型和新开发的无霉菌3D打印。这些方法涉及两个步骤：沉积处理和后处理固化，这些固化既耗能又耗时。在局部额叶辅助3D打印中，沉积和固化在一步过程中同时完成。外部热源用于初始化固化过程和放热固化反应产生的热量，使固化能够在沉积的材料时自发自发。新方法有可能使用热固性聚合物影响产品设计，组装和产品的生产。结果，它有可能导致许多国家利益行业（例如汽车，航空航天和海洋工业）的重大变化和竞争力。该项目将吸引研究生和本科生的研究活动，从而为高级制造业人士做好准备。基于这项研究的外展活动将在高中夏令营和在线视频中使用，以向学生和公众提供有关高级制造业的教育。 有四个研究目标：（1）确定固化剂浓度和打印切片尺寸对额叶速度和前部传播距离的影响； （2）了解局部额叶速度，热固性树脂的粘弹性行为与印刷结构的几何保真度之间的关系； （3）测试以下假设：特定的额叶速度范围将导致较高的层间粘结强度； （4）揭示局部额叶速度对印刷结构机械性能的影响。为了实现这些目标，研究团队将同时采用理论和实验方法。具体而言，将根据反应动力学对额固化速度和前稳定距离的固化结构和浓度的影响进行建模和模拟，然后通过高分辨率红外摄像头进行验证。热固性树脂的粘弹性将通过实时流变特征和数据拟合来研究。额叶速度对实验测试和统计分析将揭示印刷结构的层间粘结强度和机械性能的影响。该奖项反映了NSF的法定任务，并被认为是值得通过基金会的智力优点和更广泛影响的评估来支持的。