Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics Monitoring
Vat photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing (AM) is critical in improving solutions for wearable sensors. The ability to add nanoparticles to increase the polymer resin’s mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties creates a strong proposition for investigating custom nanocomposites for...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Polymers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/20/4170 |
| _version_ | 1797572498795003904 |
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| author | Christopher Billings Ridwan Siddique Yingtao Liu |
| author_facet | Christopher Billings Ridwan Siddique Yingtao Liu |
| author_sort | Christopher Billings |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vat photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing (AM) is critical in improving solutions for wearable sensors. The ability to add nanoparticles to increase the polymer resin’s mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties creates a strong proposition for investigating custom nanocomposites for the medical field. This work uses a low-cost biocompatible polymer resin enhanced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and a digital light processing-based AM system to develop accurate strain sensors. These sensors demonstrate the ability to carry a 244% maximum strain while lasting hundreds of cycles without degradation at lower strain ranges. In addition, the printing process allows for detailed prints to be accomplished at a sub-30 micron spatial resolution while also assisting alignment of the MWCNTs in the printing plane. Moreover, high-magnification imagery demonstrates uniform MWCNT dispersion by utilizing planetary shear mixing and identifying MWCNT pullout at fracture locations. Finally, the proposed nanocomposite is used to print customized and wearable strain sensors for finger motion monitoring and can detect different amounts of flexion and extension. The 3D printed nanocomposite sensors demonstrate characteristics that make it a strong candidate for the applications of human kinematics monitoring and sensing. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:57:07Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ee4daaf6cd2340e3afe242875f6ca820 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2073-4360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T20:57:07Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polymers |
| spelling | doaj.art-ee4daaf6cd2340e3afe242875f6ca8202023-11-19T17:52:12ZengMDPI AGPolymers2073-43602023-10-011520417010.3390/polym15204170Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics MonitoringChristopher Billings0Ridwan Siddique1Yingtao Liu2School of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Ave., Norman, OK 73019, USANorman North High School, 1809 Stubbeman Ave., Norman, OK 73069, USASchool of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, 865 Asp Ave., Norman, OK 73019, USAVat photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing (AM) is critical in improving solutions for wearable sensors. The ability to add nanoparticles to increase the polymer resin’s mechanical, electrical, and chemical properties creates a strong proposition for investigating custom nanocomposites for the medical field. This work uses a low-cost biocompatible polymer resin enhanced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs), and a digital light processing-based AM system to develop accurate strain sensors. These sensors demonstrate the ability to carry a 244% maximum strain while lasting hundreds of cycles without degradation at lower strain ranges. In addition, the printing process allows for detailed prints to be accomplished at a sub-30 micron spatial resolution while also assisting alignment of the MWCNTs in the printing plane. Moreover, high-magnification imagery demonstrates uniform MWCNT dispersion by utilizing planetary shear mixing and identifying MWCNT pullout at fracture locations. Finally, the proposed nanocomposite is used to print customized and wearable strain sensors for finger motion monitoring and can detect different amounts of flexion and extension. The 3D printed nanocomposite sensors demonstrate characteristics that make it a strong candidate for the applications of human kinematics monitoring and sensing.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/20/4170additive manufacturing3D printingphotocurable polymerflexible sensorstrain sensorpiezoresistivity |
| spellingShingle | Christopher Billings Ridwan Siddique Yingtao Liu Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics Monitoring Polymers additive manufacturing 3D printing photocurable polymer flexible sensor strain sensor piezoresistivity |
| title | Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics Monitoring |
| title_full | Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics Monitoring |
| title_fullStr | Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics Monitoring |
| title_full_unstemmed | Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics Monitoring |
| title_short | Photocurable Polymer-Based 3D Printing: Advanced Flexible Strain Sensors for Human Kinematics Monitoring |
| title_sort | photocurable polymer based 3d printing advanced flexible strain sensors for human kinematics monitoring |
| topic | additive manufacturing 3D printing photocurable polymer flexible sensor strain sensor piezoresistivity |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/15/20/4170 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT christopherbillings photocurablepolymerbased3dprintingadvancedflexiblestrainsensorsforhumankinematicsmonitoring AT ridwansiddique photocurablepolymerbased3dprintingadvancedflexiblestrainsensorsforhumankinematicsmonitoring AT yingtaoliu photocurablepolymerbased3dprintingadvancedflexiblestrainsensorsforhumankinematicsmonitoring |