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Stereolithographic 3D Printing with Renewable Acrylates
Published on: September 12, 2018
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3D printing preview for stereo-lithography based on photopolymerization kinetic models
Yi Gao1,2, Lei Xu3, Yang Zhao1
1State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Belt and Road Joint Laboratory of Advanced Fiber and Low-dimension Materials (Donghua University), College of Materials Science and Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai, 201620, PR China.
Bioactive Materials
|July 9, 2020
Summary
This study introduces a simulation strategy for stereolithographic (SL) 3D printing, enabling print previews for complex biomedical objects by combining polymerization kinetics and reaction conditions.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials Engineering
- Polymer Chemistry
- Additive Manufacturing
Background:
- Stereolithographic (SL) three-dimensional (3D) printing is crucial for biomedical applications but faces complexity in process simulation.
- Accurate simulation is needed to predict and optimize the fabrication of intricate 3D printed biomedical objects.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a simulation strategy for SL 3D printing that integrates polymerization kinetics and reaction conditions for print preview.
- To validate the simulation model using UV-curable dental materials and assess its accuracy.
Main Methods:
- Developed a theoretical kinetics model incorporating oxygen inhibition for photopolymerization.
- Utilized in-situ Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine propagation and termination constants.
- Employed coupled UV/visible (UV/vis) spectroscopy to study light attenuation during the curing process with various materials and additives.
- Verified simulation accuracy by comparing experimental results of epoxy acrylate with varying photoinitiator concentrations under UV light.
Main Results:
- The simulation model accurately predicted the photopolymerization behavior of epoxy acrylate-based dental materials.
- High correlation coefficients (R² values of 0.8959, 0.9324, and 0.9337) were achieved between experimental data and simulation results for different initiator concentrations.
- The model successfully accounted for factors like oxygen inhibition and light attenuation.
Conclusions:
- The developed simulation strategy enables effective visualization of printing quality prior to the actual fabrication of complex 3D printed biomedical objects.
- This approach enhances the reliability and efficiency of SL 3D printing for producing intricate biomedical devices and structures.
