Polyglycerol resin towards sustainable 3D-printing

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Chemical Engineering
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Additive manufacturing (AM), or 3D-printing, offers rapid production of customized items but relies heavily on petroleum-based materials.
• A limited range of available resins hinders the advancement of AM technologies.
• Renewable and biodegradable materials are needed to expand AM applications and recyclability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the use of glycerol-based (meth)acrylated oligomers in stereolithography (SLA) for 3D-printing.
• To develop and test novel, greener resins for AM applications.
• To investigate acrylic-free alternatives derived from glycerol.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of (meth)acrylated polyglycerols with 4 and 6 glycerol units.
• Evaluation of printability parameters, diverse geometries, and biocompatibility using SLA.
• Exploration of acrylic-free resins via ring-opening of maleic and norbornene anhydrides.
• Preliminary curability tests on bioderived resins.

Main Results:

• Glycerol-based (meth)acrylated oligomers demonstrated suitability for SLA 3D-printing.
• Successful printing of various models with good resolution and intricate geometries.
• Initial development of acrylic-free resins from glycerol, showing potential for curability.

Conclusions:

• Glycerol-based resins are promising sustainable alternatives for AM, particularly in SLA.
• The developed resins contribute to a more environmentally friendly approach in 3D-printing.
• Further research into acrylic-free resins can broaden the scope of sustainable AM materials.