Evaluation of graphene addition on 3D resin for MSLA vat polymerization

ABSTRACT

Additive manufacturing opens new possibilities for new designs and manufacture of architected metamaterials and nanocomposites. Among the 3D printing technology, vat polymerization is highlighted due its higher resolution, smother surface and printing speed. In spite of the growing interest in the Additive Manufacturing technologies and the potential benefits of graphene reinforcement to improve the properties of parts produced by vat polymerization-based 3D Printing; there is a lack in understanding of the effects of adding graphene to photosensitive vat resin. Therefore, in this study the effect of adding graphene (0.3 and 0.5%) on the chemical, thermal and mechanical properties of parts fabricated by vat polymerization of a standard photosensitive acrylic resin was determined. Graphene addition resulted in a minimal modification of polymeric structure; however, it had a significant impact in the UV curing. The addition of graphene nanoplatelets hindered the photopolymerization of standard acrylic resin as consequence a higher amount of unpolymerized monomers are found after printing. Regarding the mechanical properties, graphene addition promoted a slight improvement in the Elastic Modulus while decreased tensile and flexural strength and it had no significative impact in toughness. An additional thermal curing step can be an alternative to improve polymerization and mechanical strength. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the effects of adding graphene to vat polymerization and its potential and limitations.

Keywords:
Vat polymerization; Graphene; Nanocomposite; 3D printing