The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

We report a new technology, heating at a patterned photothermal interface (HAPPI), which achieves additive manufacturing (AM, 3D printing) of thermoset resins or proteins without any chemical modifications. In HAPPI AM, the patterned light (or laser rastering) dictates the pattern of heat on the bottom of the vat (photothermal plate), which is then translated into a thermally cured resin layer. In this presentation, we describe the creation of 3D objects with three different materials by HAPPI. First, we describe the realization of the HAPPI printing using a commercial Sylgard 184 polydimethylsiloxane resin. We further discuss commercialization of HAPPI technology with medical grade silicone to prosthetic and orthotic markets. Second, we report AM of one of the high-performance thermosets, polydicyclopentadiene (pDCPD), and pDCPD-carbon fiber composites using encapsulated Grubbs-type catalyst particles. The resulting materials would provide applications for aerospace and manufacturing. Third, we report AM of proteins (bovine serum albumin) via HAPPI by heat denaturation. Our studies suggest applications including packaging materials, structural engineering materials and scaffolds for tissue engineering. Finally, we are investigating thermal reduction of metal salts via HAPPI, creating conductive patterns on flexible substrates.