4D Printing of Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC): A Detailed Analysis of Microstructure, Programming, and Shape Memory Performance

In this research, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) with excellent shape-memory effects is 4D printed via fused deposition modeling (FDM) technology. An experimental procedure for successful 3D printing of lab-made filament from PVC granules introduced. Macro- and microstructural features are investigated by means wide-angle X-ray scattering (WAXS), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA) techniques. A promising feature hypothesized the presence small close imperfect thermodynamically stable crystallites as physical crosslinks, which further reinforced mesomorphs possibly molecular entanglement. detailed shape fixity recovery performance carried out considering three programming scenarios cold (Tg ?45 °C), warm ?15 hot +15 °C) two load holding times 0 s, 600 s under three-point bending compression modes. Extensive insightful discussions presented, in conclusion, promising,ranging 83.24% to 100%. Due absence similar results specialized literature, paper likely fill a gap state-of-the-art materials library printing, provide pertinent that instrumental PVC-based structures.