3D-printing of core-shell capsule composites for post-reactive and damage sensing applications

Rupp, H., et al. Advanced Materials Technology, 2020, 2000509, https://doi.org/10.1002/admt.202000509

3D-printing of multi-component materials as an advantageous method over traditional mold casting methods is demonstrated, developing small core-shell capsule composites fabricated by a two-step 3D-printing process. We here report the 3D-printing of a capsule-based multicomponent material using a two print-head system (fused deposition modeling extruder and a liquid inkjet print head), to embed micro-sized capsules in sizes ranging from 100 – 800 µm, located within the thermoplastic polymer poly(ε-caprolactone) (PCL) As a proof of concept novel “click”-reaction systems, used in self-healing and stress-detection applications, are manufactured, in which PCL composites with nano- and micro-fillers are combined with reactive, encapsulated liquids. Copyright © 2020 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim