Abstract
The invention concerns in-air polymerization of liquid jets as a novel platform to produce microparticles and micro-fibres with tunable size, shape, and composition at high throughput (>100 ml/h per nozzle). The polymerization kinetics may be modelled as a function of the ink composition, the UV light intensity, and the velocity of the liquid jet, enabling engineering of complex micro-materials in jetting regimes. The size, morphology, and local chemistry of micro- materials are independently controlled, as highlighted by producing micro-materials using a number of different photo-polymers as well as multi-material composites. Simultaneous optimization of these control parameters yields rapid fabrication of stimuli-responsive Janus fibres that function as soft actuators. Also, in-air photo-polymerization enables control over the curvature of printed droplets, as highlighted by high-throughput printing of micro-lenses with tunable focal distance. The combination of rapid processing and tunability in composition and architecture opens a new route towards applications of tailored micro-materials in soft matter, medicine, pharmacy, and optics.
| Original language | English |
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| Patent number | NL2027000B |
| IPC | B01J 13/ 14 A I |
| Priority date | 27/11/20 |
| Publication status | Published - 4 Jul 2022 |