--- title: "Flexibility Meets Structure with 3D-Printable Thermoplastic Elastomer" id: "7717" type: "post" slug: "flexibility-meets-structure-with-3d-printable-thermoplastic-elastomer" published_at: "2025-01-03T14:19:19+00:00" modified_at: "2025-01-03T14:19:19+00:00" url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2025/01/flexibility-meets-structure-with-3d-printable-thermoplastic-elastomer-007717/" markdown_url: "https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2025/01/flexibility-meets-structure-with-3d-printable-thermoplastic-elastomer-007717.md" excerpt: "Alice Fergerson, along with Emily Davidson’s team at Princeton University, has developed a breakthrough material: a 3D-printable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that combines localized flexibility with controlled rigidity." taxonomy_category: - "3D Printing/Additive Manufacturing" - "Elastomers" - "Industry" - "Materials" - "Medical" - "Process" - "Resins" - "Thermoplastics" taxonomy_post_tag: - "3D Printing" - "Princeton" - "thermoplastic elastomer" - "TPE" --- [Home](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/) » [News](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/news/) » [Materials](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/materials/) » [Resins](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/materials/resins/) » [Thermoplastics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/materials/resins/thermoplastics/) » Flexibility Meets Structure with 3D-Printable Thermoplastic Elastomer # Flexibility Meets Structure with 3D-Printable Thermoplastic Elastomer Alice Fergerson and a team of engineers at Princeton University led by Emily Davidson developed a plastic material that can accommodate different levels of flexibility. Courtesy of Princeton Engineering.Additive manufacturing has opened new frontiers for developing multifunctional materials across industries. In medicine, it supports innovations such as organ-regenerating tissues and advanced biomedical devices. Beyond healthcare, [additive manufacturing](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/c/process/3d-printing-additive-manufacturing/) drives the creation of novel 3D-printable architectures with broad application potential. [Alice Fergerson](https://cbe.princeton.edu/people/alice-fergerson) , along with Emily Davidson’s team at Princeton University, has developed a breakthrough material: a 3D-printable thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) that combines localized flexibility with controlled rigidity. This innovation paves the way for customizable, high-performance structures in applications ranging from medical devices to soft robotics. ## Material Characteristics The TPE used is a block copolymer that transitions from a moldable state when melted to an elastic structure upon cooling. Its unique property lies in the separation of rigid homopolymer cylinders (5–7 nanometers thick) within an elastic polymer matrix. This internal architecture allows the material to flex and stretch in targeted directions while retaining stiffness in others. Through precise 3D printing techniques, the team controlled the orientation of these nanostructures, achieving localized rigidity and elasticity. Printing speed and extrusion techniques further modulate physical properties, offering unprecedented customization at the nanoscale. ## Self-Healing Capabilities and Cost Advantages Thermal annealing enhances the printed material’s performance and enables self-healing. During testing, damaged samples were successfully repaired through annealing, restoring their original properties without compromise. Compared to similar high-performance materials—often costing $2.50 per gram and requiring complex UV treatments—the Princeton team’s TPE costs just a penny per gram. Moreover, it can be processed using standard commercial 3D printers, offering a scalable, cost-effective solution for industrial applications. ## Expanding Applications This low-cost, tunable material opens doors to numerous applications, including soft robotics, medical devices, prosthetics, and custom footwear. Davidson envisions the next phase involving wearable electronics and biomedical innovations, leveraging 3D-printed architectures to deliver advanced functionality and accessibility. This development marks a significant step in combining affordability, versatility, and performance in polymer-based materials. By **[Plastics Engineering](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/pe-anonymous/)** | January 3, 2025 ##### [Plastics Engineering](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/author/pe-anonymous/) [+ postsBio ⮌](#) ### Other posts you could read [April 6, 2026Thermotropic LCEs Power Soft Robotics](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/thermotropic-lces-power-soft-robotics-010984/) [April 28, 2026IKV Colloquium 2026: The Journey of Research and Industry](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/ikv-colloquium-2026-the-journey-of-research-and-industry-010989/) [April 10, 2026In Vivo Plastic Waste Upcycling](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/in-vivo-plastic-waste-upcycling-010935/) [April 9, 2026FlexForum 2026 Brings Flexible Packaging Leaders to Fort Myers](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/flexforum-2026-brings-flexible-packaging-leaders-to-fort-myers-011346/) [April 20, 2026Real-Time Melt Monitoring in Extrusion and Injection Molding](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/real-time-melt-monitoring-in-extrusion-and-injection-molding-011167/) [April 7, 2026Biodegradable Planting Bags: A Solution for Agricultural Plastic Waste](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/biodegradable-planting-bags-a-solution-for-agricultural-plastic-waste-011023/) [April 30, 2026Upcycling Polyolefins into Jet Fuel Components](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/upcycling-polyolefins-into-jet-fuel-components-011138/) [April 8, 2026Recycled Carbon Fiber from Automotive Waste](https://www.plasticsengineering.org/2026/04/recycled-carbon-fiber-from-automotive-waste-010930/) ## Share Your Thoughts [Cancel reply](/2025/01/flexibility-meets-structure-with-3d-printable-thermoplastic-elastomer-007717/#respond) - [https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&text=Flexibility+Meets+Structure+with+3D-Printable+Thermoplastic+Elastomer&via=Plastics_Mag](https://twitter.com/share?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&text=Flexibility+Meets+Structure+with+3D-Printable+Thermoplastic+Elastomer&via=Plastics_Mag) - [https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&t=Flexibility+Meets+Structure+with+3D-Printable+Thermoplastic+Elastomer](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&t=Flexibility+Meets+Structure+with+3D-Printable+Thermoplastic+Elastomer) - [https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&title=Flexibility%20Meets%20Structure%20with%203D-Printable%20Thermoplastic%20Elastomer&summary=Alice+Fergerson%2C+along+with+Emily+Davidson%E2%80%99s+team+at+Princeton+University%2C+has+developed+a+breakthrough+material%3A+a+3D-printable+thermoplastic+elastomer+%28TPE%29+that+combines+localized+flexibility+with+controlled+rigidity.&source=Plastics+Engineering](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&title=Flexibility%20Meets%20Structure%20with%203D-Printable%20Thermoplastic%20Elastomer&summary=Alice+Fergerson%2C+along+with+Emily+Davidson%E2%80%99s+team+at+Princeton+University%2C+has+developed+a+breakthrough+material%3A+a+3D-printable+thermoplastic+elastomer+%28TPE%29+that+combines+localized+flexibility+with+controlled+rigidity.&source=Plastics+Engineering) - [https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&title=Flexibility+Meets+Structure+with+3D-Printable+Thermoplastic+Elastomer](https://www.reddit.com/submit?url=https://www.plasticsengineering.org/?p=7717&title=Flexibility+Meets+Structure+with+3D-Printable+Thermoplastic+Elastomer) - [/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a19ed2d4c3cbc4c2d59cf1cdc0d2d5c8c2d281e4cfc6c8cfc4c4d3c8cfc6818c81e7cdc4d9c8c3c8cdc8d5d881ecc4c4d5d281f2d5d3d4c2d5d4d3c481d6c8d5c98192e58cf1d3c8cfd5c0c3cdc481f5c9c4d3ccced1cdc0d2d5c8c281e4cdc0d2d5ceccc4d387c3cec5d89cc9d5d5d1d29b8e8ed6d6d68fd1cdc0d2d5c8c2d2c4cfc6c8cfc4c4d3c8cfc68fced3c68e9ed19c96969096](/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a19ed2d4c3cbc4c2d59cf1cdc0d2d5c8c2d281e4cfc6c8cfc4c4d3c8cfc6818c81e7cdc4d9c8c3c8cdc8d5d881ecc4c4d5d281f2d5d3d4c2d5d4d3c481d6c8d5c98192e58cf1d3c8cfd5c0c3cdc481f5c9c4d3ccced1cdc0d2d5c8c281e4cdc0d2d5ceccc4d387c3cec5d89cc9d5d5d1d29b8e8ed6d6d68fd1cdc0d2d5c8c2d2c4cfc6c8cfc4c4d3c8cfc68fced3c68e9ed19c96969096) - [#comments](#comments)