Progress in Photocurable 3D Printing of Photosensitive Polyurethane: A Review.

Area of Science:

• Additive Manufacturing
• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry

Background:

• Photocurable 3D printing, an advanced additive manufacturing technology, is gaining attention for its efficiency and accuracy.
• It is widely used in industrial manufacturing, biomedical fields, soft robotics, and electronic sensors.
• The technology relies on area-selective curing of photopolymerization reactions using photosensitive resins.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the research and application progress of photocurable 3D printing using photosensitive polyurethanes.
• To analyze the advantages and disadvantages of this specific additive manufacturing technology.
• To provide an outlook on the future development of photosensitive polyurethane materials in 3D printing.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of photocurable 3D printing techniques.
• Analysis of photosensitive polyurethane material properties and their role in 3D printing.
• Evaluation of current applications and future trends in the field.

Main Results:

• Photosensitive polyurethanes offer desirable properties like elasticity, tear resistance, and fatigue resistance due to their unique molecular structure.
• The alternating soft and hard segments and microphase separation in polyurethanes contribute to enhanced performance in photocured resins.
• The review synthesizes current research on the advantages and limitations of using these materials in 3D printing.

Conclusions:

• Photosensitive polyurethanes are a promising class of materials for advanced photocurable 3D printing.
• Further research into material design can unlock new applications requiring specific performance characteristics.
• This technology holds significant potential for innovation across various industrial and scientific domains.