3D Printing of Strong, Tough, Multifunctional and Sustainable Material from Dynamic Imidazole-urea-epoxy Chemistry

Jian-Jun Chen; Jian-Ye Zhang; Si-Yi Ye; Chen-Yu Wang; Yan-Yun Zhao; Xi-Ya Qiao; Xin-Yu Xu; Feng-Ping Shuai; Hai-Fei Zhang; Yong-Xin Bao; Zeng-He Liu; Yu-Tian Zhu

doi:10.1007/s10118-026-3806-3

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3D Printing of Strong, Tough, Multifunctional and Sustainable Material from Dynamic Imidazole-urea-epoxy Chemistry

RESEARCH ARTICLE | Updated：2026-09-24

- 3D Printing of Strong, Tough, Multifunctional and Sustainable Material from Dynamic Imidazole-urea-epoxy Chemistry
- Chinese Journal of Polymer Science Vol. 44, Pages: 1-9(2026)
- Affiliations：
  
  a.Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material Technology, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Material Technology, College of Material, Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 311121, China
  b.Zhejiang Huafon New Material Co., Ltd., Ruian 325200, China
- Author bio：
  
  zengheliu@hznu.edu.cn (Z.H.L.)
  ytzhu@hznu.edu.cn (Y.T.Z.)
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s10118-026-3806-3
  CLC：
- Received：08 May 2026，
  
  Accepted：07 July 2026，
  
  Online First：24 September 2026，
  
  Published：2026-08
- Accepted：
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Chen, J. J.; Zhang, J. Y.; Ye, S. Y.; Wang, C. Y.; Zhao, Y. Y.; Qiao, X. Y.; Xu, X. Y.; Shuai, F. P.; Zhang, H. F.; Bao, Y. X.; Liu, Z. H.; Zhu, Y. T. 3D printing of strong, tough, multifunctional and sustainable material from dynamic imidazole-urea-epoxy chemistry. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3806-3

Jian-Jun Chen, Jian-Ye Zhang, Si-Yi Ye, et al. 3D Printing of Strong, Tough, Multifunctional and Sustainable Material from Dynamic Imidazole-urea-epoxy Chemistry[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-9.
Chen, J. J.; Zhang, J. Y.; Ye, S. Y.; Wang, C. Y.; Zhao, Y. Y.; Qiao, X. Y.; Xu, X. Y.; Shuai, F. P.; Zhang, H. F.; Bao, Y. X.; Liu, Z. H.; Zhu, Y. T. 3D printing of strong, tough, multifunctional and sustainable material from dynamic imidazole-urea-epoxy chemistry. Chinese J. Polym. Sci. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10118-026-3806-3 DOI：

Jian-Jun Chen, Jian-Ye Zhang, Si-Yi Ye, et al. 3D Printing of Strong, Tough, Multifunctional and Sustainable Material from Dynamic Imidazole-urea-epoxy Chemistry[J/OL]. Chinese Journal of Polymer Science, 2026, 441-9. DOI： 10.1007/s10118-026-3806-3.

摘要

Abstract

Photo-curing three-dimensional (3D) printing enables complex geometries

personalized customization

rapid curing

and excellent spatial resolution; however

conventional photocured resins often suffer from limited mechanical performance

functionality

and sustainability. Herein

we present a novel photothermal dual-curing strategy based on dynamic imidazole-urea-epoxy chemistry to produce 3D printed materials with exceptional strength and toughness. This chemistry is triggered during post-printing thermal treatment

which not only creates new covalent crosslinks

but also synergistically integrates the toughness of polyurethane with the strength of epoxy

resulting in a reinforced network. This transformation also drives a dramatic 26-fold increase in the elastic modulus (from 13 MPa to 338 MPa)

enabling a single material to be programmed from a soft and flexible state into a rigid and structural solid. Such a stark property shift unlocks unique functionalities

including shape programmability

enhanced portability

and adaptive performance for multiscenario applications. Furthermore

we extend this strategy to commodity polyurethane foam (PUF) waste and successfully upcycle it into high-performance 3D printing resins. Our work establishes a versatile approach for manufacturing strong

tough

multifunctional

and sustainable 3D printed materials.

关键词

Keywords

references

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