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Recent progress in 4D printing of stimuli-responsive polymeric materials

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Abstract

4D printing is proposed based on the additive manufacturing of stimuli-responsive materials and structures, which can realize shape changing upon external stimuli. This article reviews the 4D printing methods and actuating performances of 4D printing structures based on shape memory polymers, hydrogels, liquid crystal elastomers, and electroactive polymers. This article shows that the shape morphing properties of single materials are limited, while 4D printing of composites can integrate the various driving modes of different smart materials. In the end, challenges facing 4D printing such as broadening the scope of smart materials, improving printing processes, the compatibility of printing different materials have been discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Bionic Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130025, China

    SuQian Ma, YunPeng Zhang, YunHong Liang, Lei Ren & LuQuan Ren

  2. School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M139PL, UK

    Lei Ren

  3. Center of Reproductive Medicine, Center of Prenatal Diagnosis, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Meng Wang

Authors
  1. SuQian Ma
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  2. YunPeng Zhang
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  3. Meng Wang
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  4. YunHong Liang
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  5. Lei Ren
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  6. LuQuan Ren
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to YunHong Liang or Lei Ren.

Additional information

This work was supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (Grant Nos. 2018YFB1105100, 2018YFC2001300), the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 5167050531, 51822504, 91848204), the Joint Foundation for Equipment Pre-research of Ministry of Education (Grant No. 2018G944J00084), Key Scientific and Technological Project of Jilin Province (Grant No. 20180201051GX), the Program for JLU Science and Technology Innovative Research Team (Grant No. 2017TD-04), the National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents (Grant No. BX20180126), and the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (Grant No. 2018M641769).

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Ma, S., Zhang, Y., Wang, M. et al. Recent progress in 4D printing of stimuli-responsive polymeric materials. Sci. China Technol. Sci. 63, 532–544 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11431-019-1443-1

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