Investigating the Mechanical Properties an‎d Shape Memory Behavior of Soybean Oil-Based Epoxy Polymer Fabricated by Digital Light Processing (DLP) Method

10/22/2026 12:00:00 AM

In this study, the mechanical, thermal, electrical, an‎d shape-memory properties of a bio-based polymer derived from soybean oil epoxy were investigated, which was fabricated using the Digital Light Processing (DLP) technique. The aim of this research was to optimize the formulation of the base resin an‎d to examine the effect of adding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on the mechanical performance an‎d shape-memory behavior of the system. For this purpose, acrylated epoxidized soybean oil (AESO) was combined with isobornyl acrylate (IBOMA) an‎d the photoinitiator Irgacure 819, an‎d different ratios of the components were examined to determine the optimal formulation. Subsequently, carbon nanotubes were added to the base resin in three weight ratios, an‎d the samples were printed using a 3D printer. The fabricated specimens were characterized through tensile testing, dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), shape-memory testing, an‎d current–voltage (I–V) measurements. The results indicated that adding small amounts of carbon nanotubes improved the strength an‎d toughness of the material. Overall, the findings of this study revealed that the base resin reinforced with 0.1–0.3 wt% carbon nanotubes provides an optimal balance among strength, toughness, thermal stability, electrical conductivity, an‎d shape-memory performance. This formulation can be introduced as an optimal bio-based four-dimensional (4D) printable material suitable for the development of actuators, sensors, an‎d smart adaptive structures.

چاپ چهاربعدي DLP , اپوكسي روغن دانه سويا , نانولوله كربني , حافظه شكلي , خواص مكانيكي

DLP 4D Printing , AESO , CNT , Shape memory , mechanical properties

Ali Masnavian Motlagh

Dr. Ramin Hashemi