Additive Manufacturing of Degradable Materials via Ring-Opening Metathesis Polymerization (ROMP)

Thermoset materials comprise a significant proportion of high-performance plastics due to their shape permanence and excellent thermal and mechanical properties. However, these properties come at the expense of degradability. Here, we show for the first time that the industrial thermoset polydicyclopentadiene (PDCPD) can be additively manufactured (AM) with degradable 2,3-dihydrofuran (DHF) linkages using a photochemical approach. Treatment of the manufactured objects with acid results in rapid degradation to soluble byproducts. This work highlights the potential of ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP) chemistry to create degradable materials amenable to advanced manufacturing processes.