A renewably sourced, circular photopolymer resin for additive manufacturing

A renewably sourced, circular photopolymer resin for additive manufacturing

30 May 2024 | Thiago O. Machado, Connor J. Stubbs, Viviane Chiaradia, Maher A. Alraddadi, Arianna Brandolese, Joshua C. Worch & Andrew P. Dove
A renewable, circular photopolymer resin for additive manufacturing has been developed, enabling the 3D printing of high-resolution parts that can be efficiently deconstructed and reprinted in a closed-loop system. The resin is derived entirely from renewable lipoates, which are used to form dynamic cyclic disulfide bonds that allow for the reversible depolymerization and re-polymerization of the material. This approach overcomes the limitations of conventional photopolymer resins, which are typically irreversible and difficult to recycle. The lipoate-based resin platform is highly modular, allowing for the tuning of composition and network architecture to achieve a range of thermal and mechanical properties comparable to commercial acrylic resins. The resin can be printed using a commercial digital light processing (DLP) printer and exhibits excellent resolution and fidelity in printing complex geometries. The material can be depolymerized using base-catalyzed methods, and the recycled resin can be reprinted with high efficiency, demonstrating the potential for a circular, closed-loop manufacturing process. The study also highlights the environmental benefits of using renewable, non-hazardous lipoates, which are already produced at scale and found in health supplements. The results demonstrate a proof-of-concept advancement in the field of additive manufacturing, with the potential for broader adoption due to the sustainability and recyclability of the material.A renewable, circular photopolymer resin for additive manufacturing has been developed, enabling the 3D printing of high-resolution parts that can be efficiently deconstructed and reprinted in a closed-loop system. The resin is derived entirely from renewable lipoates, which are used to form dynamic cyclic disulfide bonds that allow for the reversible depolymerization and re-polymerization of the material. This approach overcomes the limitations of conventional photopolymer resins, which are typically irreversible and difficult to recycle. The lipoate-based resin platform is highly modular, allowing for the tuning of composition and network architecture to achieve a range of thermal and mechanical properties comparable to commercial acrylic resins. The resin can be printed using a commercial digital light processing (DLP) printer and exhibits excellent resolution and fidelity in printing complex geometries. The material can be depolymerized using base-catalyzed methods, and the recycled resin can be reprinted with high efficiency, demonstrating the potential for a circular, closed-loop manufacturing process. The study also highlights the environmental benefits of using renewable, non-hazardous lipoates, which are already produced at scale and found in health supplements. The results demonstrate a proof-of-concept advancement in the field of additive manufacturing, with the potential for broader adoption due to the sustainability and recyclability of the material.
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Understanding A renewably sourced%2C circular photopolymer resin for additive manufacturing