Dynamic postpolymerization of 3D‐printed photopolymer nanocomposites: Effect of cellulose nanocrystal and postcure temperature

ABSTRACT Cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) reinforced methacrylate (MA) resin nanocomposite was prepared by 3D stereolithography printing. A postcure process, where the printed nanocomposite was heat‐treated under different temperatures, was applied to improve the property of the printed nanocomposites. To investigate the effect of CNC and postcure temperature on the kinetic behavior of the postpolymerization of printed nanocomposites, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy and differential scanning calorimetry measurement of the printed nanocomposites before and after postcure were analyzed. The postpolymerization of MA nanocomposites was promoted at a postcure temperature of 140 °C for the printed 0.5% CNC/MA nanocomposites compared to the printed MA resin. The addition of CNC retarded the polymerization of MA resin during 3D printing, resulting in poorer mechanical properties of the printed nanocomposites compared to the printed MA resin. However, after postcure, the mechanical properties of the printed nanocomposites were improved by the postpolymerization of the MA nanocomposites. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56 , 935–946