TY - JOUR

T1 - Synthesis of Bio-Based Polyester Resins for Vat Photopolymerization 3D Printing

AU - Cazin, Ines

AU - Ocepek, Martin

AU - Kecelj, Janez

AU - Stražar, Aleš Stanislav

AU - Schlögl, Sandra

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.

PY - 2024/4/19

Y1 - 2024/4/19

N2 - Driven by environmental considerations, the scientific community has directed great effort towards the synthesis of new materials derived from renewable resources. However, for photocurable resins, most commercially available building blocks still rely on petroleum-based precursors. Herein, we present a simple synthesis route for bio-based acrylate-modified polyester resins, whose viscosity is sufficiently low for processing them with vat photopolymerization 3D printing. The established synthesis route enables the gradual substitution of fossil-based raw materials with bio-based alternatives. The acid number, color and viscosity of the bio-based acrylic resins are characterized and photocurable formulations are prepared by adding a radical photoinitiator. The photopolymerization kinetics, and thermomechanical and mechanical properties of the photopolymers are investigated as a function of the resin structure and benchmarked against a commercially available petroleum-based counterpart. Finally, the processability of the new bio-based resins via digital light processing 3D printing is demonstrated and test specimens are successfully 3D printed with a resolution in the millimeter range.

AB - Driven by environmental considerations, the scientific community has directed great effort towards the synthesis of new materials derived from renewable resources. However, for photocurable resins, most commercially available building blocks still rely on petroleum-based precursors. Herein, we present a simple synthesis route for bio-based acrylate-modified polyester resins, whose viscosity is sufficiently low for processing them with vat photopolymerization 3D printing. The established synthesis route enables the gradual substitution of fossil-based raw materials with bio-based alternatives. The acid number, color and viscosity of the bio-based acrylic resins are characterized and photocurable formulations are prepared by adding a radical photoinitiator. The photopolymerization kinetics, and thermomechanical and mechanical properties of the photopolymers are investigated as a function of the resin structure and benchmarked against a commercially available petroleum-based counterpart. Finally, the processability of the new bio-based resins via digital light processing 3D printing is demonstrated and test specimens are successfully 3D printed with a resolution in the millimeter range.

KW - additive manufacturing

KW - bio-based polymers

KW - photocuring

KW - polyester resins

KW - vat photopolymerization 3D printing

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85191418784&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/ma17081890

DO - 10.3390/ma17081890

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85191418784

VL - 17.2024

JO - Materials

JF - Materials

SN - 1996-1944

IS - 8

M1 - 1890

ER -