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Updated: Jan 5, 2026
3D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: February 18, 2022
A Versatile 3D and 4D Printing System through Photocontrolled RAFT Polymerization
Zhiheng Zhang1, Nathaniel Corrigan1, Ali Bagheri2
1Centre for Advanced Macromolecular Design and Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia.
This study introduces rapid, green light-activated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization for 3D printing. This environmentally friendly method enables controlled fabrication of functional biomaterials and stimuli-responsive 4D printed objects.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Materials Science
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Reversible Addition-Fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization offers control over polymer synthesis.
- Slow polymerization rates have limited RAFT's use in additive manufacturing.
- Developing faster RAFT systems is crucial for advanced material fabrication.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and optimize a rapid, visible light-mediated RAFT polymerization process.
- To apply this process to an open-air 3D printing system for biomaterial fabrication.
- To enable spatiotemporal control for 4D printing applications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized visible (green) light to mediate RAFT polymerization.
- Integrated RAFT agents into photosensitive resins for 3D printing.
- Employed non-toxic, metal-free, and environmentally friendly reaction components.
Main Results:
- Achieved rapid polymerization rates suitable for additive manufacturing.
- Demonstrated control over mechanical properties of 3D printed materials.
- Enabled post-printing functionalization and one-pass 4D printing with controlled network structures.
Conclusions:
- Developed a novel, rapid, and eco-friendly RAFT-mediated 3D and 4D printing process.
- The method is suitable for fabricating functional biomaterials and stimuli-responsive materials.
- This approach opens new avenues for advanced material design and manufacturing.
