Photo-polymer resins used in additive manufacturing (AM) typically rely on highly crosslinked thermoset networks to quickly vitrify a material and provide mechanical integrity. The resulting irreversibly crosslinked networks ensure that the material cannot be readily processed or remolded at the end of its product life cycle. As AM emerges as a form of mass manufacturing, the sustainability of these materials and their impact on the environment is increasingly important to consumers and manufacturers.<br/><br/>To address this issue, new materials for the AM industry must be designed to introduce the combination of sustainability and mechanical robustness. This work is focused on developing a UV-curable reversible thermoset resin that can be recycled by several different methods. First, we demonstrate that this strategy can lead to melt-processable 3D-printed thermosets. In another embodiment, reversible crosslinks allow for the extraction of important raw materials that, after purification and quality control, can be incorporated into new formulations. Finally, complete dissolution of a reversible thermoset can be achieved establishing a path towards the continuous recycling of 3D-printed photo-polymers.

UV-curable reversible thermosets as a path towards recycling in additive manufacturing

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.