Production of bio-based Photopolymer-Colemanite resin composites using 3D DLP printing for advanced radiation...

Bio-based photopolymers have recently attracted significant attention due to their sustainability, processability, and potential for functional material design. In this study, bio-based photopolymer-colemanite resin composites were fabricated via Digital Light Processing (DLP) 3D printing and investigated for advanced radiation protection applications. Colemanite, a naturally occurring boron-rich mineral, was incorporated into a bio-based photopolymer resin at concentrations of 0, 1, 3 and 5 wt % to improve gamma-ray attenuation capability. The radiation shielding performance of the colemanite-doped composites was performed at gamma energies of 356, 662, 1173, and 1333 keV using an NaI(Tl) (ORTEC® 905-4) detector. In addition to radiation shielding, the physicochemical properties of composites were characterized through SEM, XRD, FTIR, and TG analysis. Furthermore, mechanical performance was examined through compressive and tensile strength tests. The results showed that increasing colemanite content significantly enhanced gamma-ray absorption. These findings demonstrate that bio-based photopolymer-colemanite composites produced through DLP 3D printing provide an effective and environmentally friendly approach for next-generation radiation shielding applications.