Advanced Methods and Materials for Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing

Abstract

Vat photopolymerization is a versatile 3D printing technology for rapid prototyping applications. Recent innovations have made vat photopolymerization technologies vastly cheaper and more accessible, but the field still faces numerous shortcomings. Notably, the lack of materials and multi-material printing make vat photopolymerization unsuitable for many advanced rapid prototyping applications. Advancements in methodology and materials which attempt to address these shortcomings are discussed herein. More specifically, printing hydrophobic resins, gradient material compositions, multi-material objects, and materials with high elongation are explored. This research is anticipated to help bring the capabilities of vat photopolymerization to new application fields such as soft robotics, wearable devices, and flexible electronics.