Work

A 3D printing UV-curing resin that enables continuous color change of elastomers

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This work presents a UV-curing resin based on the Christiansen effect, which forms an elastomer with a bicontinuous phase-separated structure through the synergistic interaction of a hydroxyethyl acrylate monomer with two poor solvents, dimethyl phthalate and tributyl citrate. The unique feature of the PSE is that the solvent phase has the same refractive index as the polymer phase, which enables selective transmission of specific wavelengths of monochromatic light. By controlling the ratio of undesirable solvents and the temperature, the color of the elastomer can be changed continuously from red to purple in a rainbow-like fashion. In addition, the elastomer in characterized by excellent mechanical properties, including high elongation at break (>600%) and Young's modulus (>300 kPa), as well as a wide work temperature range (-25 °C to 130 °C). Most importantly, the resin is compatible with 3D printing technology, allowing real-time adjustment of poor solvent compositions during the printing process without the need to change printing parameters. Such a property realizes continuous multi-material printing and continuity of color change in the three-dimensional space of the light-curing resin, bringing new application possibilities and innovative directions to the 3D printing field.

Source: iScience

DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2025.112867

Authors: Yiyang Gao, Qihao Jiang, Yanming Liu

Institution: Xidian University

Language: English

Topic: Photonic Crystals and Applications

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,240

Funders: University of Edinburgh, China Postdoctoral Science Foundation, Natural Science Basic Research Program of Shaanxi Province