A study on the rheological and mechanical properties of photo-curable ceramic/polymer composites with different silane coupling agents for SLA 3D printing technology

Silane coupling agents (SCAs) with different organofunctional groups were coated on the surfaces of Al₂ O₃ ceramic particles through hydrolysis and condensation reactions, and the SCA-coated Al₂ O₃ ceramic particles were dispersed in a commercial photopolymer based on interpenetrating networks (IPNs). The organofunctional groups that have high radical reactivity and are more effective in UV curing systems are usually functional groups based on acryl, such as acryloxy groups, methacrloxy groups, and acrylamide groups, and these silane coupling agents seem to improve interfacial adhesion and dispersion stability. The coating morphology and the coating thickness distribution of SCA-coated Al₂ O₃ ceramic particles according to the different organofunctional groups were observed by FE-TEM. The initial dispersibility and dispersion stability of the SCA-coated Al₂ O₃/High-temp composite solutions were investigated by relaxation NMR and Turbiscan. The rheological properties of the composite solutions were investigated by viscoelastic analysis and the mechanical properties of 3D-printed objects were observed with a nanoindenter.