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Engineering and technology
- Polymers and plastics
Macromolecular species with a defined sequence and uniform molecular weight are known as sequence-defined macromolecules (SDMs). This class of molecule has found applications in many areas of chemistry and biology, but has yet to be applied to additive manufacturing. Due to limitations in the scalability of the synthesis of SDMs (or uniform macromolecules in general), the material-properties have not been studied in detail. By introducing photochemical crosslinkers in well-defined locations in a SDM’s backbone, we will form photocurable resins that can be used in direct laser writing and stereolithography for the 3D printing of solid structures. By tuning the positions and quantities of these photoactive groups, and by changing the physical properties of the SDMs, we hope to be able to formulate resins with custom properties.