Register for free to
view the full innovation profile.
Our 100% bio-sourced resin technology makes sustainable 3D Printing possible; offering complete depolymerization, closed-loop recyclability, and exceptional performance.
About
What is the problem?
Current market-available photocurable resins predominantly rely on non-renewable resources for their chemical composition. These resins are composed of crosslinked polymers, which, due to their robust covalent bonds, pose challenges for complete recyclability, rendering them costly and inefficient in terms of resource utilization.
Our Solution
Made entirely from bio-sourced materials, it can be 3D printed, recycled, and then printed again.
While current 3D printing usually relies on epoxies or acrylics, which come mostly from petrochemical feedstock, the new resin is made from lipoic acid, a naturally occurring fatty acid molecule that is 100% bio-sourced, and commonly sold as a dietary supplement.
Additionally, the recyclability of conventional resins is still limited, because they rely on irreversible bonds created when the resin cures (hardens), and this poses challenges when the material needs to be recycled.
In contrast, the resin designed by the Birmingham team can be printed, then broken back down to its constituent parts, recycled and reprinted, with the addition of just a small amount of photoinitiator to maintain the material’s curable properties, meaning 3D printed products can be recycled in an almost fully closed-loop system.
The new resin is compatible with light-initiated printing techniques such as DLP, SLA or by direct ink write, or InkJet printing, and provides high fidelity, with resolution down to 0.05mm.
The researchers who invented the resin were led by professor Andrew Dove from Birmingham’s School of Chemistry.
They have shown the resin can complete two ‘recycles’, and anticipate further recycling is possible, meaning the material could be used in sustainable packaging, industries that do rapid prototyping, optical and electronic devices, construction and architecture, or fashion and jewellery.
Key Benefits
• Complete depolymerization, enabling closed-loop recyclability.
• 100% bio-sourced, ensuring a sustainable and environmentally friendly solution.
• Compatible with light-initiated printing techniques such as DLP, SLA or by direct ink write, InkJet Printing
• Tuneable properties can be achieved by altering the ratios of reactive diluent and crosslinker.
• High crosslinking density enables rapid printing, improving productivity and efficiency.
• Excellent resolution down to 50μ and high fidelity.
• Good ambient stability and bench storage for several weeks
• Safer Operations: non-toxic resin promotes a safer working environment during 3D printing processes
Applications
• Sustainable Packaging
• Sustainable Prototyping
• Optical and electronic devices
• Construction and architecture
• Fashion and jewellery