TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY Tailoring Toughness using Multi-Material Polymer Formulations for Additive Manufacturing

Opportunity: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its polymer-based multi-material formulation for additive manufacturing of mechanically robust hierarchal structures.Background: There are many examples in nature that show material performance can be greatly enhanced by combining the advantages of multiple material classes into functionally graded structures, e.g., the excellent load-bearing performance of a vertebrate’s skeleton relies on the connection of rigid bones with soft muscle tissue. To replicate the smooth gradients between soft and stiff components at similar length scales in manmade objects and synthetic systems for performance improvement is very challenging due to limitations in design and conventional

manufacturing methods. Multi-Material Additive Manufacturing (MMAM), an emerging manufacturing method, has been gaining attention since it enables the creation of objects with multiple materials or material properties across the volume of the object. The ability to tune mechanical properties within a single component opens up new avenues for creating functional objects with tailored characteristics, particularly in biomedical application where complex modulus gradients are desired.Description: LLNL researchers have developed an innovative and uniform single-pot polymer multi-material system, based on a combination of 3 different reactive chemistries. By combining the three different constituent monomers, fine control of mechanical attributes, such as elastic modulus, can be achieved by adjusting the dosage of UV light throughout the additive manufacturing process. This results in measured elastic modulus ranging from 1.5-500 MPa and a toughness spanning ~20-3000 Mpa/m2. In addition to being able to tune the mechanical properties within the component, LLNL researchers has also been able to demonstrate an innovative chemical recycling approach of multi-materials. The incorporation of a specific chemical bond not only enhances the mechanical properties of the additively manufactured multi-material structures, but also introduces the concept of polymer network recyclability. These multi-materials can be depolymerized with the introduction of an excess of certain reactive components at ambient temperature. The reclaimed oligomer can then be reutilized in the design of new multi-materials, showcasing the sustainable potential of this approach.Advantages/Benefits: Offers one pot polymer-based formulation with controllable mechanical properties on a layer-by-layer basis.Manufactured structures can be recycled into reusable oligomer.Mechanical properties of printed materials can be tuned to create tailored toughness materials for targeted applications.Potential Applications: Biomedical/biomimetic applicationsSoft materialsRoboticsDevelopment Status: Current stage of technology development: TRL 3LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.Note: THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT. Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's multi-material polymer formulation for additive manufacturing should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:Company Name and address.The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's multi-material polymer formulation for additive manufacturing .The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.Written responses should be directed to:Lawrence Livermore National LaboratoryInnovation and Partnerships OfficeP.O. Box 808, L-779Livermore, CA 94551-0808Attention: IL-13881