Logo image
A practical framework for predicting conversion profiles in vat photopolymerizations
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

A practical framework for predicting conversion profiles in vat photopolymerizations

Jianwei Tu, Yaser Kashcooli, Nicolas J. Alvarez and Giuseppe R. Palmese
Additive manufacturing, v 59, 103102
Nov 2022
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addma.2022.103102View
Accepted (AM)Open Access (Publisher-Specific) Open

Abstract

accumulated effective dose conversion profile cure kinetics vat photopolymerization
Monomer fractional conversion is an important indicator of critical physical and thermal properties of thermosetting polymers. Acrylic photo-resins are widely used in light-based 3D printing techniques. The green conversion of acrylate double bonds affects the performance of 3D printed parts before and after post-processing. This work describes a practical framework for predicting conversion profiles of green parts produced by digital light processing (DLP) vat photopolymerization, although the principle should be applicable to all light-based vat photopolymerization techniques. The practical model utilizes accumulated dose profiles and photopolymerization kinetics to make predictions of conversion profiles. Photopolymerization kinetics was determined by real-time photo-infrared spectroscopy, and a phenomenological model was employed to describe the cure kinetics which included oxygen inhibition period and dose rate dependency. A sub-linear dependence of cure kinetics on dose rate showed that effective dose rather than actual dose determined the degree of cure. A mathematical model for accumulated effective dose was developed, and the effects of the ratio of layer thickness to resin depth of penetration on accumulated effective dose profiles were discussed. Predicted conversion profiles from the model were compared to experimental z-direction conversion profiles measured by IR microscope. Further, a Matlab program was developed for predicting and tuning z-direction conversion profiles in DLP vat photopolymerizations with user-input printing parameters. Using the program, the model predicted a relatively flat conversion profile by over-exposing the last layer. The prediction was experimentally verified which showed the effectiveness of this simple model. [Display omitted] •A practical model was established to predict z-direction conversion profiles in green parts produced by vat photopolymerization.•The model utilizes accumulated effective dose profiles and photopolymerization kinetics.•Conversion profiles of green prints by DLP vat photopolymerizations were successfully predicted by the model.•A flat conversion profile was predicted by the model and was experimentally verified.

Metrics

18 Record Views
18 citations in Scopus

Details

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This publication has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

#9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure

InCites Highlights

Data related to this publication, from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool:

Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Web of Science research areas
Engineering, Manufacturing
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Logo image