Improving the mechanical properties of acrylic resin through optimized curing and enhancement with alumina

Abstract

By offering a more versatile and cost-effective approach for creating complex three-dimensional objects, 3D printing technology has revolutionized various industries such as automotive, aerospace, healthcare, and fashion. In line with this transformative impact, this work focuses on optimizing the mechanical properties of acrylic resin Spot-HT, a commonly used material in vat photopolymerization. The primary challenges associated with using acrylic resin are its suboptimal curing process, which often degrades its properties, and the resultant object's inadequate mechanical properties, even when the resin is fully cured. This scenario demands robust solutions for the production of high-quality 3D-printed objects. This project is segmented into two core sections. The first section focuses on optimizing the curing process of acrylic resin in 3D printing through photopolymerization, where it has been substantiated that post-processing treatment through overexposure to UV radiation or thermal post-curing significantly enhances the resin's mechanical properties. The second section involves formulating suspensions with alumina in the same resin for 3D printing. The aim is to achieve a stable material that allows the printing of a composite with improved properties. To evaluate the mechanical properties of the resin in different processes, flexion and tension tests have been conducted, allowing us to compare the flexural moduli and maximum stresses. However, the post-processing treatment appears to be more efficient than the addition of alumina and the subsequent post-treatment. By using a curing time of 27 seconds per layer with the 3D printer LCD and a thermal post-treatment, we have achieved a maximum modulus increase of 15% compared to the resin without post-treatment