Preparation of Photocurable Organic–Inorganic Hybrid Composites for Continuous Manufacturing of 3D-Patterned Abrasive

TL;DR

Researchers created 3D-patterned abrasive materials using a fast, continuous manufacturing method with photocurable hybrid composites.

Contribution

A new method for continuous 3D patterning of abrasive materials using photocurable hybrid composites and a roll-to-roll process.

Findings

3D patterns with 147 μm sides were manufactured at 2.5 m/min using UV curing and a soft engraved mold.

Surface modification with a bifunctional ligand improved particle-resin interactions, as shown by tribometer measurements.

FTIR and SEM confirmed successful functionalization and 3D structure formation.

Abstract

Photocurable hybrid organic–inorganic composites were prepared via surface modification and 3D-patterned structures were fabricated by utilizing a continuous roll-to-roll manufacturing strategy. The surfaces of nanocrystals were engineered with a bifunctional ligand that is a 2-carboxyethyl acrylate, which possesses a carboxylic acid moiety at one end and an acrylate functionality moiety at the other end, yielding acrylate-functionalized nanocrystals. Micro-scale 3D patterns (protruding pyramidal shapes with each side measuring 147 μm) were continuously manufactured at a speed of 2.5 m/min via UV curing with a soft engraved mold. The surface properties of the functionalized nanocrystals and their UV curing condition were explored with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The morphology of the 3D film was measured using scanning electron microscopy. A pin-on-disk tribometer measurement revealed an improved interaction between the functionalized particles and resins.

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