In this context, a team led by Professor Xie Tao of the School of Chemical Engineering and Bio -Engineering at the University of Zhejiang and the researcher Zheng Ning recently offered an innovative solution – a material of photocurable resin with recyclable properties. The results of the relevant research were published in the Science Journal on April 11 as “the circular 3D printing of high performance photopolymers through the design of the dissociative network”.
Traditional 3D 3D printing materials are generally based on polymer networks formed by acrylate monomers by polymerization of the radical chain, and their main channel is made up of unique carbon-carbon links, which are very stable and difficult to depolymerize and recover, and ultimately become waste and difficult to reuse. Faced with this challenge, Professor Xie Tao and the team of researcher Zheng Ning found that the condensation reaction of the Thiol and the aromatic aldehyde can quickly generate dreamer bonds with thermal reversibility under light irradiation.
Like Lego bricks, the material can be connected to a complex three -dimensional structure through these “Snap” links after photocoorization, while under heating conditions, the dreamer connections can be “unbuttoned” and restored to the original oligomer or monomer, thus carrying out without loss at the molecular level.
Professor XIE TAO said: “By molecular design regulating the structure of the main chain of the polymer, we have managed to prepare a variety of different 3D printing materials such as elastomers, crystalline polymers and rigid polymers.” These materials can be widely used in fields such as the disappearance of molds, metal engines, orthodontic molds, etc. If necessary, and can be recycled several times to further reduce environmental pollution and resource waste.
This study innovatively offers a 3D polymerization printing system step by step based on the reaction of the Aldehyde / Thio group, and uses dynamic reversible networks to build the “Lego” structure of polymers. This system not only provides a technical basis for closed 3D printing recycling recycling, but also provides a new method for making various and high performance 3D printing products.
Thanks to this technological breakthrough, the team has not only resolved the contradiction between the mechanical properties of traditional photocious 3D printing materials and closed loop recycling, but also applied it to real production, demonstrating good economic and environmental advantages. Compared to traditional recycling methods, developed photocurage resin materials have not only 3 to 4 times mechanical properties, but can also be effective and recycled without loss and reused.
Future perspectives: the rise of the green factory
This innovative achievement of the University of Zhejiang’s research team has brought revolutionary progress to 3D printing technology. Thanks to the design of dynamic photooressive chemical links, the team managed to cross the recycling difficulties of traditional 3D printing materials. Future 3D printing production lines will not only be able to produce high precision and high performance products, but will also become a “green factory” without waste, low -cost and environmentally friendly.
