Surface-Eroding Acrylated Anhydride Resins for 3D Printing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3D-printable thermosets and thermoplastics that chemically degrade in water face challenges such as intense swelling, limiting their suitability for small-scale applications like soft-lithography and microfluidics, due to the lack of synthesis routes for high-resolution and minimal-swelling resin formulations.
Innovation Solution
Development of photo-curable resin compositions comprising methacrylated or acrylated anhydrides that undergo light-activated polymerization, allowing for the creation of degradable three-dimensional objects through controlled hydrolytic degradation, suitable for 3D printing and additive manufacturing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If photo-curable resin compositions with bulk-degrading chemistry are used for 3D printing, then large-scale applications and sacrificial molds can be achieved, but intense swelling of the crosslinked matrix occurs which limits suitability for small-scale applications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the degradation mechanism parameter from bulk-degrading to surface-eroding chemistry. This fundamental parameter change allows the material to degrade from the outside in rather than swelling throughout the bulk, thereby enabling high-resolution small-scale applications while maintaining control over dimensional stability during degradation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite resin formulations combining surface-eroding anhydride-based polymers with photo-curable acrylate or methacrylate monomers. This composite approach integrates the controlled surface erosion mechanism with photopolymerization capability, achieving both high-resolution printing and predictable degradation behavior for small-scale applications
2Manufacturing precision
If surface-eroding photo-curable resins are used, then high-resolution and minimal-swelling applications are enabled, but synthesis routes must be developed for commercially available resin formulations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the synthesis process into modular components: surface-eroding anhydride-based polymer backbones combined with photo-curable acrylate or methacrylate functional groups. This segmentation allows independent optimization of degradation control and photopolymerization properties, facilitating commercial formulation development
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops universal resin formulations based on anhydride polymers that can be functionalized with different photo-curable groups (acrylate or methacrylate). This universal platform enables a single synthesis route to produce multiple resin variants suitable for various high-resolution applications, improving ease of manufacture
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The resin compositions provide a platform for creating high-resolution, biocompatible, and sustainable materials with controlled degradation, enabling applications in precision casting, transient sensors, and medical devices while maintaining mechanical integrity.
Implementation Method 1
photo-curable resin compositions (i.e., resin compositions that undergo light-activated polymerization)
Implementation Method 2
chemically degrade in the presence of water in a controlled, predictive manner
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to photo-curable resins, and, more particularly, to 3D-printable, surface-eroding, acrylic anhydride-based resins, including both acrylated and methacrylated chemistries. In a preferred embodiment, the resins compositions are degradeable. The disclosure also provides methods of preparing the photo-curable resins and embodiments of degradeable objects comprised of the photo-curable resins.