Laser Research Center, Physics Faculty, Vilnius University, Sauletekio Ave. 10, Vilnius, LT-10223, Lithuania.
Department of Polymer Chemistry and Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu Rd. 19, LT-50254, Kaunas, Lithuania.
Sci Rep. 2020 Jun 16;10(1):9758. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-66618-1.
Materials obtained from renewable sources are emerging to replace the starting materials of petroleum-derived plastics. They offer easy processing, fulfill technological, functional and durability requirements at the same time ensuring increased bio-compatibility, recycling, and eventually lower cost. On the other hand, optical 3D printing (O3DP) is a rapid prototyping tool (and an additive manufacturing technique) being developed as a choice for efficient and low waste production method, yet currently associated with mainly petroleum-derived resins. Here we employ a single bio-based resin derived from soy beans, suitable for O3DP in the scales from nano- to macro-dimensions, which can be processed even without the addition of photoinitiator. The approach is validated using both state-of-the art laser nanolithography setup as well as a widespread table-top 3D printer - sub-micrometer accuracy 3D objects are fabricated reproducibly. Additionally, chess-like figures are made in an industrial line commercially delivering small batch production services. Such concept is believed to make a breakthrough in rapid prototyping by switching the focus of O3DP to bio-based resins instead of being restricted to conventional petroleum-derived photopolymers.
从可再生资源中获得的材料正在取代石油衍生塑料的起始材料。它们易于加工，同时满足技术、功能和耐用性要求，确保提高生物相容性、可回收性，并最终降低成本。另一方面，光学 3D 打印（O3DP）是一种快速原型制作工具（也是一种增材制造技术），作为一种高效、低浪费的生产方法的选择正在得到发展，但目前主要与石油衍生树脂相关联。在这里，我们使用一种源自大豆的单一生物基树脂，适用于从纳米到宏观尺寸的 O3DP，即使不添加光引发剂也可以进行加工。该方法通过使用最先进的激光纳米光刻设备以及广泛使用的桌面 3D 打印机进行了验证——可以重复制造具有亚微米精度的 3D 物体。此外，还可以在商业上提供小批量生产服务的工业线上制造国际象棋棋子等物品。这种概念有望通过将 O3DP 的重点从传统的石油衍生光聚合物转移到基于生物的树脂上来实现快速原型制作的突破。
