Influence of a non-reactive additive on the photocuring and 3D-VAT printing processes of PEGDA: Complementary studies. (5th November 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tomal, Wiktoria; Ortyl, Joanna
• Is Part Of: European polymer journal. Volume 180(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-11-05
• Subjects: TPO-Li -- PEGDA -- Photopolymerization -- Kinetic of the process -- Non-reactive agent -- 3D printing -- DLP; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Polymères -- Périodiques; Polymérisation -- Périodiques; Polymerization; Polymers; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 547.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.eurpolymj.2022.111588
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3057

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: The effect of water as a non-reactive additive on the photopolymerization process of PEGDA was investigated. Real-time FTIR, photo-DSC and photo-rheology methods were used to study the polymerization process of PEGDA/water resins. The impact of the amount of a non-reactive additive on the degree of PEGDA conversion, photopolymerization rate and polymerization shrinkage was determined. The DLP technique was used to determine the suitability of water/PEGDA resin for manufacturing of 3D materials. Optical resolution and polymerization shrinkage during printing were analyzed. Abstract: Photopolymerization processes are currently-one of the key methods for obtaining functional materials, and the possibility of applying this processes to additive technologies opens up new opportunities, especially for the medical market. 3D-VAT printing, including techniques such as digital light processing (DLP) and stereolithography (SLA), makes it possible to obtain materials with the desired geometry, high optical resolution and rapid layer-by-layer production time, which was not previously possible with classical techniques used in biomedicine. Therefore, understanding the fundamental relationships between the components of photosensitive compositions, including the initiator, monomer/oligomer and additives, is crucial to the applicational success of bioprinting. Hence, this paper investigates the effect of a non-reactive additive to the bioresin on the photopolymerization process both in situ and in 3D-VAT printing. The following components were selected as the model system for the study: poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA), lithium phenyl-2, 4, 6-trimethylbenzoylphosphinate (TPO-Li), and as an unreactive ingredient – water, in varying amounts. This paper presents a comprehensive research procedure using different techniques: real-time FTIR, photo-DSC and photo-rheology, to precisely quantify the relationship: kinetic of the photopolymerization process/shrinkage of the material vs the amount of non-reactive additive. The possibility of using the investigated bioresins to create three-dimensional materials was also studied. The materials, obtained by 3D-VAT printing using DLP technology, were compared in terms of the achieved optical resolution and polymer shrinkage.