Thermochromism is a reversible phenomenon based on a change in the color of the substance, depending on whether the substance is heated or not. Thermochromic dye is added to polymers, which can appear as thermoplastics, elastomers or in the form of coatings. With their color change, they can be used as indicators of temperature differences in the storage of hazardous substances, food packaging, mechanical load sensors, light transmittance regulators and for many other purposes.
In this study we investigated the influence of 3D ptinting of thermochromic polymer PLA on its mechanical properties. We studied the influence of printing temperature on the rate of change of thermochromic reaction, the influence of UV light on thermochromic reaction in 3D printed polymer, the influence of tensile loading of material on polymer color change, the influence of temperature on viscosity of thermochromic polymer PLA and thermal properties of thermochromic PLA.
The results showed that the printing temperature affects the mechanical properties of the polymer, moreover UV light destroys the thermochromic mechanism in the polymer, and the viscosity of the polymer decreases with increasing temperature. Thermal characterization enabled the determination of the glass transition, crystallization and melting point of the polymer.
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