3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Researchers Improve SLA Printing With Cross-Linking Method
revopoint

Researchers Improve SLA Printing With Cross-Linking Method

August 31, 2018

SLA prints are oftentimes quite weak in comparison to various other additive manufacturing methods. This perception of weakness has often held them back from having applications in industrial environments. The mechanical properties of SLA prints can, however, be improved with certain methods, as a new study proves. Researchers at China’s Zhejiang University have shown that cross-linking can allow for materials with long polymer chains, which exhibit better material attributes than their standard counterparts.

The practice of cross-linking actually originates from the material coating field. The use of cross-linking opens up a lot more potential uses for SLA materials such as Isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI), 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG)-based materials, which all have long pre-polymerisation chains. The researchers picked these materials and were able to form dense prints due to their molecular structure.

3d printed graphene seaweed featured
Related Story
Graphene Seaweed Composite Forms Prints Stronger Than Steel

The Preparation Process

Chinese Improve SLA Printing With Cross-Linking Method

The pre-polymers didn’t automatically come ready for the process though. The materials can actually be very viscous and stay in a solid state that’s not ideal for SLA printing. To fix this issue, they added three kinds of adjuvants to dilute the prepolymer to make it suitable for processing. The addition of 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate into the prepolymer causes shrinkage of printed parts  lower than 1.3%. Similarly, with the diluent ethylene glycol monophenyl ether, the density range of printed parts is between 1.187 g cm−3 and 1.195 g cm−3, which is higher than that of commercial PVC and PET.

In total the researchers measured three resins at different laser powers and scanning speeds. They noticed that the resins vary in density and hardness within a small range when these properties change. The researchers note that a power of 195.5–350 mW can help achieve relatively flat surface, high density and hardness in the eventual print.

While SLA is a fantastic technology with numerous advantages, it is not in wide use at the current moment. However, this new method may allow for the printing of functional components with excellent performance. Perhaps in the future such improvements can help SLA overcome its reputation for only being good for prototyping.

The full study is available here. Featured image courtesy of Zhejiang University.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Mandrill’s Custom Bonneville T120 Street Tracker Reimagines Classic Design

Chinese custom shop Mandrill Garage has transformed a Triumph Bonneville T120 into a street tracker that blends racing aesthetics with practical functionality. The... read more »

Automotive
Mandrill's Custom Bonneville T120 Street Tracker Reimagines Classic Design

Design Lab Invents Modular, Fully 3D Printed Wheelchair for Kids

MakeGood NOLA has developed a modular, fully 3D-printed wheelchair for children ages 2 to 8. The New Orleans-based adaptive design lab created the... read more »

News

Donkervoort’s New P24 RS Supercar Uses 3D-Printed Intercoolers

Conflux Technology, an Australian company specializing in heat exchangers, has created a 3D-printed intercooler for Donkervoort's upcoming P24 RS supercar. The metal 3D-printed... read more »

Automotive
Donkervoort's New P24 RS Supercar Uses 3D-Printed Intercoolers

3D Printed Concrete Bus Stop Creates Sculptural Shelter in Slovakia

A new 3D-printed concrete bus stop has been installed in Bratislava, Slovakia, as part of urban development in the growing Čerešne district. The... read more »

Construction
3D Printed Concrete Bus Stop Creates Sculptural Shelter in Slovakia

Reducing Porosity Key to Stronger Large-Scale 3D Prints

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) researchers have created a vacuum-assisted extrusion technique that reduces internal porosity in large-scale 3D-printed polymer parts by up... read more »

News

Engineer Creates 3D Printed Trekking Pole Attachment to Combat Trail Litter

Aerospace engineer John McShane has developed "CleanTrek," a 3D-printed attachment for hiking poles designed to collect litter on trails. Inspired by a trash-strewn... read more »

Environmental
Engineer Creates 3D Printed Trekking Pole Attachment to Combat Trail Litter

New $9M Illinois Lab to 3D Print Large Vehicle Parts for US Military

The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is establishing a new research center focused on developing additive manufacturing methods for large metal parts. The center... read more »

Military
New $9M Illinois Lab to 3D Print Large Vehicle Parts for US Military

University of Florida Students Develop Simple Spool to Address 3D Printing Waste

A team of University of Florida mechanical engineering students has created a device aimed at reducing plastic waste in 3D printing. The device,... read more »

Environmental
University of Florida Students Develop Simple Spool to Address 3D Printing Waste

Cadillac CELESTIQ Features Over 100 3D Printed Parts in Luxury Hand-Built Design

General Motors has expanded its use of additive manufacturing beyond prototyping to include functional parts in production vehicles. The Cadillac CELESTIQ, a hand-built... read more »

Automotive

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing