Vat polymerization 3D printing techniques, such as SLA, DLP or volumetric printing, use patterned light to trigger polymerizations within a volume of a photoresin and thus producing 3D objects. The process of printing in a vat of resin using light that varies temporally and spatially creates dynamics within the resin mixture that ultimately influence material properties of the printed part. The advent of 3D printing has allowed us to reimagine the way materials are combined with geometry to yield smart parts with seamlessly integrated function. Progress towards this, however, is impeded by limited options in functional materials and poorly optimized 3D printing processes. To advance 3D printing of smart parts, we developed innovative and functional materials specifically tailored for various 3D printing platforms. Here we present our studies on the effect of polymerization mechanisms (i.e., step growth vs. chain growth), polymerization kinetics, viscosity of the resins and printing conditions on the material morphologies, printing speed and printing fidelity. We expect that our understanding of photopolymerization using patterned light offers a means to improve the printing quality and be exploited to achieve new and desirable material properties within 3D printed objects.

Advanced functional materials and technologies for additive manufacturing

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

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