Welcoming Remarks

Digital light processing (DLP) is a popular method of vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing of thermosetting polymers with high resolution that is well-suited to fabrication of highly filled composites. Interfacial interactions are particularly important in highly filled composite systems given the large surface area of interface per unit volume. In this work, high volume fraction (50 vol.%) glass microsphere-reinforced composites were fabricated via DLP. The effect of surface chemistry and interfacial interactions on the mechanical properties of additively manufactured composites were investigated using two model systems: one where glass microsphere surface chemistry was modified using silane coupling agents, and one where interfacial interactions were mediated with the addition of monomers to the resin system that have previously been shown to improve adhesion through non-covalent interactions. Interfacial interactions between the urethane acrylate-based resin system and glass microspheres were found to dictate the overall performance of the composites. The efficacy of these two approaches are compared with respect to their ability to alter mechanical and thermomechanical properties of the composite.