FPP3D: Coupling frontal photopolymerisation and interfacial wrinkling for single shot 3D patterning

聚合物材料的光曝光固化是涂层和图案化技术中的一种常见方法。在特定条件下，凝固前沿(由液体和固体之间的界面定义)是尖锐的，并在光的驱动下传播，从而侵入未聚合的材料。这种光驱动的行波聚合过程产生了正面光聚合，这是一种有吸引力的多能级图案和物体的制造工具。因此，理想的是液-固锋是平坦和光滑的。然而，在一定的前沿速度、光强、温度、时间和其他制造条件下，可能会出现界面“粗糙”。这个项目将调查和控制这种“粗糙度”--由界面的皱折、折叠和折痕引起--以制造高价值的功能表面。实验能力图和预测计算工具将被建立和验证，然后应用于这种新制造方法的快速原型样例，包括具有平滑3D轮廓的光学活性材料。

The solidification of polymeric materials by light exposure is a common approach in coatings and patterning technologies. Under specific conditions, a solidification front (defined by the interface between liquid and solid) is sharp and, driven by light, travels thereby invading the unpolymerised material. Such light-driven travelling wave polymerisation processes give rise to frontal photopolymerisation which is an attractive manufacturing tool for multi-level patterns and objects. It is thus desirable that the liquid-solid front is planar and smooth. However, interfacial "roughness" may occur at certain front velocities, light intensity, temperature, time and other manufacturing conditions. This project will investigate and control this "roughness" - caused by wrinkling, folding and creasing of the interface - to manufacture functional surfaces of high value. An experimental capability map and predictive computational tool will be established and validated and then applied to rapidly prototype exemplars of this novel manufacturing approach, including optically active materials with smooth 3D profiles.