Abstract
The integration of smart wearable technology with daily life necessitates materials that are not only responsive but also robust and user-friendly. This study focuses on the manufacturing process of a novel smart wearable from a hydrogel composite to compete with conventional plastics. The composite consists of Hydroxyethyl Methacrylate (HEMA) & Poly ethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) with Triphenylphosphine oxide (TPO) acting as the Photoinitiator, employing Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing method.To achieve a level of durability comparable to plastics, the ratio of HEMA to PEGDA in the composite was manipulated to mimic the mechanical properties of plastics which were validated using several tensile tests. The enhanced hydrogels uniquely incorporate thermochromic & photochromic capabilities through the addition of chromogenic powders, allowing for a dynamic color response to temperature & UV light variations. The powders and the 3D printed samples were also characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) to confirm their behavior, and the effect of their concentration on the tensile strength and color intensity was also investigated. The thermal color transitions are not merely aesthetic; they are linked to an artificial intelligence (AI) model specifically trained to decode these hues into temperature measurements, providing a noninvasive method for monitoring personal thermal environments. Additionally, the photochromic aspect of the wearables acts as a visual alarm against UV exposure, automatically signaling when protective measures are advisable.
These transformative hydrogel wearables provide direct colorimetric feedback for UV protection and AI-assisted temperature monitoring, they also offer practical, immediate environmental responsiveness in a user-friendly format.
| Date of Award | 2 May 2024 |
|---|---|
| Original language | American English |
| Supervisor | HAIDER BUTT (Supervisor) |
Keywords
- HEMA
- PEGDA
- Hydrogel
- DLP
- Smart wearables
- Thermochromic
- Photochromic
- AI