Surface modification strategies for improved cellulose nanocrystal integration in 3D-Printed bio-based acrylate matrix

Abstract

The current application of renewable resources in vat photopolymerization (VP) 3D printing is rather limited, emphasizing the importance of incorporating bio-based materials into additive manufacturing (AM). In this study, VP 3D printing technology was applied to create composites (derived from soybean oil-based resin) reinforced with cellulose nanocrystals (CNC). Two distinct modifications for CNC, i.e., the acrylation and functionalization with methyl methacrylate, were selected to achieve strong bonding with the UV-curable acrylate matrix. With the use of 0.1 wt% of modified CNC, the resins retain remarkable performance and support the creation of high-resolution prints. The successful integration of modified CNC showed significant improvements in tensile and flexural properties, e.g., elongation at break increased by 75 % and 295 %, respectively. The addition of modified CNC fillers also increased tensile strength by 147 % and flexural strength by 121 %. Fourier-transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) testified to the enhanced interface between filler and matrix. The morphological features and print quality were examined with microscopic analysis, UV-VIS spectroscopy, and colorimetry. The resin showed exceptional printing resolution, characteristic of VP printing, and yielded double bond conversion rates greater than 70 %. The findings presented here indicate that the addition of 0.1 wt% of modified CNC to bio-based resins results in an exceptional increase in the mechanical performance and dimensional stability of printed materials.