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Updated: Jun 4, 2026
3D Printing and In Situ Surface Modification via Type I Photoinitiated Reversible Addition-Fragmentation Chain Transfer Polymerization
Published on: February 18, 2022
Ultrafast and high-precision 3D printing via type-I-initiated xanthate-mediated RAFT polymerization
Zhihan Yuan1, Yixiang Zhang1, Ying Meng1
1State Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Novel Functional Polymeric Materials, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Advanced Functional Polymer Design and Application, Suzhou Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Design and Precision Synthesis, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Soochow University Suzhou 215123 China chemlina@suda.edu.cn chemjjli@suda.edu.cn chemzhujian@suda.edu.cn.
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Photopolymerization-based 3D printing offers outstanding spatial and temporal control; however, achieving high build speeds without sacrificing network precision remains challenging, particularly for living/controlled polymerization systems. Herein, we report an ultrafast, high-resolution photo-RAFT 3D printing platform enabled by xanthates in combination with a Norrish type I photoinitiator. This strategy allows practical build speeds (3-30 cm h-1) even at high RAFT concentrations. Through rational modification of the xanthate Z group and blending of xanthates with distinct controllability, the homogeneity and mechanical properties of the polymer networks can be continuously tuned without compromising printing fidelity. The printed objects retain active RAFT chain ends, enabling post-printing welding and multimaterial integration. This work establishes a versatile, application-oriented RAFT-based 3D printing framework that integrates ultrafast fabrication, precise network control, and programmable mechanical functionality.
