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3D printing by stereolithography using thermal initiators

Author

Listed:
  • Doron Kam

    (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Omri Rulf

    (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Amir Reisinger

    (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Rama Lieberman

    (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Shlomo Magdassi

    (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

Abstract

Additive manufacturing technologies based on stereolithography rely on initiating spatial photopolymerization by using photoinitiators activated by UV-visible light. Many applications requiring printing in water are limited since water-soluble photoinitiators are scarce, and their price is skyrocketing. On the contrary, thermal initiators are widely used in the chemical industry for polymerization processes due to their low cost and simplicity of initiation by heat at low temperatures. However, such initiators were never used in 3D printing technologies, such as vat photopolymerization stereolithography, since localizing the heat at specific printing voxels is impossible. Here we propose using a thermal initiator for 3D printing for localized polymerization processes by near-infrared and visible light irradiation without conventional photoinitiators. This is enabled by using gold nanorods or silver nanoparticles at very low concentrations as photothermal converters in aqueous and non-aqueous mediums. Our proof of concept demonstrates the fabrication of hydrogel and polymeric objects using stereolithography-based 3D printers, vat photopolymerization, and two-photon printing.

Suggested Citation

  • Doron Kam & Omri Rulf & Amir Reisinger & Rama Lieberman & Shlomo Magdassi, 2024. "3D printing by stereolithography using thermal initiators," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-46532-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46532-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Junzhe Zhu & Qiang Zhang & Tianqing Yang & Yu Liu & Ren Liu, 2020. "3D printing of multi-scalable structures via high penetration near-infrared photopolymerization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-7, December.
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