3D printing of deep eutectic solvent based on 1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide and 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate

With the discovery of 3D printing in recent decades, research has increasingly been focused on the creation of materials best suited for its application. Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are attractive toward this end due to their customizability, along with qualities such as non-flammability and low vapor pressure. Recent investigation has shown DES uses in 3D printing, with the aforementioned qualities making DESs practical for 3D printer resins. It has also recently been found that DESs can be prepared using natural compounds, making them both a potentially greener and cheaper alternative for use in resin preparation.
To further investigate the uses of DESs in 3D printing, three DES-like resins were developed. These resins employ 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate as the hydrogen bond donor and 1-butyl-3-vinylimidazolium bromide as the hydrogen bond acceptor. For 3D printing, varying mole percentages of crosslinker were used to observe the effect on resin properties. The 3D printed materials were then characterized in terms of thermal stability and various chemical and mechanical properties in order to determine their potential for future applications.