Non‐toxic flexible photopolymers for medical stereolithography technology

Abstract

Purpose

To describe the development of a novel polyether(meth)acrylate‐based resin material class for stereolithography with alterable material characteristics.

Design/methodology/approach

A complete overview of details to composition parameters, the optimization and bandwidth of mechanical and processing parameters is given. Initial biological characterization experiments and future application fields are depicted. Process parameters are studied in a commercial 3D systems Viper stereolithography system, and a new method to determine these parameters is described herein.

Findings

Initial biological characterizations show the non‐toxic behavior in a biological environment, caused mainly by the (meth)acrylate‐based core components. These photolithographic resins combine an adjustable low Young's modulus with the advantages of a non‐toxic (meth)acrylate‐based process material. In contrast to the mostly rigid process materials used today in the rapid prototyping industry, these polymeric formulations are able to fulfill the extended need for a soft engineering material. A short overview of sample applications is given.

Practical implications

These polymeric formulations are able to meet the growing demand for a resin class for rapid manufacturing that covers a bandwidth from softer to stiffer materials.

Originality/value

This paper gives an overview about the novel developed material class for stereolithography and should be therefore of high interest to people with interest in novel rapid manufacturing materials and technology.

Citation

Bens, A., Seitz, H., Bermes, G., Emons, M., Pansky, A., Roitzheim, B., Tobiasch, E. and Tille, C. (2007), "Non‐toxic flexible photopolymers for medical stereolithography technology", Rapid Prototyping Journal, Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 38-47. https://doi.org/10.1108/13552540710719208