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US 11,661,477 B2Granted
Star-shaped poly(propylene fumarate) copolymers for 3D printing applications
AssigneeThe University of Akron
InventorsMatthew L. Becker, Gaelle Le Fer
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AssigneeThe University of Akron
InventorsMatthew L. Becker, Gaelle Le Fer
Estimating the term…
In various embodiments, the invention relates to poly(propylene fumarate) (PPF)-based star-shaped copolymers synthesized using a core-first approach that uses a multi-functional alcohols as an initiator, and Mg(BHT)2(THF)2 as catalyst for controlled ring opening copolymerization (ROCOP) of maleic anhydride (MAn) with propylene oxide (PO). In some embodiments, these star-PPF copolymers have lower viscosities than their linear analogs, allowing a decrease in DEF fraction in resin formulation, as well as the use of higher molecular weights. These star-shape PPF can be used to prepare PPF:DEF resins containing as much as 70% by weight of the multi-arm PPF star copolymers, and have a low complex viscosity of high Mn star PPF resin that affords rapid printing with a Mn nearly eight times larger than the largest linear PPF oligomer printed previously.
A star-shaped copolymer having three or more poly(propylene fumarate) arms extending outward from a central core comprising the residue of a multi-functional alcohol initiator having three or more hydroxyl functional groups, said star-shaped copolymer having the formula:
A star-shaped copolymer for use in 3D printable resins comprising the isomerized reaction product of maleic anhydride, propylene oxide, and a multi-functional alcohol initiator having three or more hydroxyl functional groups, said star-shaped poly(propylene fumarate) copolymer having an absorbance at wavelengths from about 305 nm to about 405 nm of from about 0.001 to about 0.2, as measured by a UV-Visible spectrometer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.