Mechanical characterization and constitutive modeling of visco-hyperelasticity of photocured polymers

In this work, we study the nonlinear behavior of soft photocured polymers typically used in 3D-printing. We perform experimental testing of 3D-printed samples cured at various controlled light intensities. The experimental data show the dependency of the material elasticity and rate-sensitivity on the curing light intensity. To elucidate these relations, we develop a physically-based visco-hyperelastic model in the continuum thermodynamics framework. In our model, the macroscopic viscoelastic behavior is bridged to the microscopic molecular chain scale. This approach allows us to express the material constants in terms of polymer chain physical parameters. We consider different physical mechanisms governing hyperelasticity and rate-dependent behaviors. The hyperelastic behavior is dictated by the crosslinked network; whereas, the viscous part originates in the free and dangling chains. Based on our experimental data, we illustrate the ability of the new constitutive model to accurately describe the influence of the light intensity on photocured polymer viscoelasticity.