Controlling structural and mechanical anisotropy in thermoplastic elastomers by 3D printing

Traditional manufacturing techniques lack the ability to produce controlled hierarchical structures approaching the level of complexity that exists in biological systems. 3D printing of nanostructured materials brings us closer to this goal by providing macroscopic geometric control over a printed architecture coupled with nanoscale control over material structure along the print path. We focus on material extrusion 3D printing of thermoplastic elastomers to induce domain orientation resulting in anisotropic mechanical properties. We examine both how the complex processing flows of 3D printing and post-printing thermal annealing impact domain orientation. By designing print paths for these soft and mechanically anisotropic materials, we will enable fabrication of highly tailored architectures with desirable macroscopic mechanical behavior, such as shock absorption and local strain isolation.