Summary:
There is growing interest in voxelated matter as it allows to build up tailored made surface functionalization and innovative new gradient materials. Inkjet-based printing is the only method that can create voxelated materials with high precision, digital and extremely versatile through high controlled formation of small pico-liter droplets [1, 2]. In this case the droplet will be the smallest material unit called voxel. The spatially controlled deposition allows to functionalize surfaces, build materials gradients, and combine different materials to generate printed surfaces with new features. In this way, the preparation of surfaces and coatings with a tailored functionalization and performance on demand becomes possible. Through the vehicle of inks with different softness grades which are doped with mechanochromic additive, we have developed a multi-material inkjet platform, which allows to create gradient materials with new performance. The additive has helped to characterize this new kind of materials on one hand and on the other hand it will be the start of creating new smart materials with gradient properties by inkjet. The first drop casting tests of these two inks has proven the mechanochromism by the measurement of the ratio between the intensity of the monomer and the excimer under UV light. The intensity in the mixing zone was measured at different strain. Finally, it was proven that the hardness in the mixing zone could be defined.
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