Resin, cure, and polymer properties of photopolymerizable resins containing bio-derived isosorbide

We have developed photocurable bio-derived isosorbide (meth)acrylates for use in photoinitiated additive manufacturing (AM). We have shown that the viscosity of isosorbide-based resins obeyed logarithmic rule of mixtures, and the viscosity values were significantly lower than that of commercial stereolithography (SLA) resins as well as various other urethane (meth)acrylates and bisphenol A (meth)acrylates-containing blends. Using isobornyl acrylate or 4-acryloylmorpholine as reactive diluents, we were able to reduce the brittleness of the isosorbide-based polymers and retain high glass transition temperatures (T-g) of up to 231 degrees C. The isosorbide-based resins were still somewhat brittle but had both greater T-g and strength relative to analogous bisphenol A dimethacrylate resins. Addition of oligomeric urethane (meth)acrylate crosslinkers further improved the mechanical properties of the polymers, whereby the strength approximately doubled to 55 MPa at 25 degrees C, while maintaining high thermal properties, T-g > 190 degrees C, and low viscosities, <140 cP, that are desirable for photoinduced AM applications. Furthermore, we were able to print this resin using SLA which produced specimens with similar moduls, but reduced strength relative to photocured resins and a commercial high temperature SLA resin.

Automated summary

Photocurable bio-derived isosorbide (meth)acrylates with low viscosity and high T-g have been developed for photoinitiated additive manufacturing. The addition of reactive diluents and crosslinkers can improve the properties of the polymers, making them suitable for photoinduced AM applications.