PDMS-based copolymers with polyurea blocks and 1,2,3-triazole blocks obtained by CuAAC polymerization for 3D printing

Polydimethylsiloxanes with improved mechanical properties that can be processed by 3D printing are in high demand for scientific and practical applications. In our article, we proposed the synthesis of new PDMS copolymers with urethane and triazole fragments using the CuAAC reaction mechanism, as well as 3D printing with the obtained copolymers. Two types of copolymers, with molecular weights of 3000 and 6000 Da of PDMS block length, were prepared and characterized by GPC, IR spectroscopy, TGA, DSC, TMA, SAXS, and rheological measurements to determine their physicochemical properties. The synthesized copolymers were found to be suitable for processing by extrusion 3D printing. This demonstrated the ability to 3D print macroscale models of varying shapes and complexity. The resulting materials retained their printed shape over time.