07/10/2026
By Danielle Fretwell

The Francis College of Engineering, Department of Plastics Engineering, invites you to attend a Master's Thesis defense by Nzube Udegbunam titled: "Structure-Property Relationships in Additively Manufactured Composites Fabricated Vat Photopolymerization and UV-Assisted Material Extrusion."

Candidate Name: Nzube Udegbunam
Degree: Master’s
Defense Date: Thursday, July 23, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. - noon
Location: Ball Hall 302

Committee:

  • Advisor: Amy Peterson, Professor, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Jay Park, Professor, Plastics Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Alireza Amirkhizi, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell
  • Christopher Hansen, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Lowell

Abstract:
Composite systems offer significant advantages in tailoring mechanical properties across a component; however, the influence of additive manufacturing techniques on the microstructure, cure behavior, and performance of such materials remains insufficiently understood, particularly for photo-curable polymer composites.

This study investigates the fabrication and characterization of polymer composites reinforced with glass microspheres. The primary objective is to examine how different additive manufacturing techniques, specifically UV-assisted Direct Ink Writing (DIW) and Digital Light Processing (DLP), influence the structural and mechanical properties of these composites. We use the same UV-curable formulations in both techniques; however, the layer-by-layer deposition in DIW vs. the photopolymerization-driven projection into a resin vat in DLP may introduce differences in polymer network architecture, microsphere organization, and voids, all of which affect mechanical properties.

Comparative analysis will include mechanical testing, microscopy, and fractography. The study provides insight into how printing-induced microstructural differences, including particle dispersion, layer adhesion, and void content, affect final performance. Findings aim to guide process-structure-property relationships in polymer composites for advanced applications such as in lightweight structures, impact mitigation, and customizable mechanical performance.