Vat Photopolymerization of Glycerol Carbonate Methyl Itaconate for Sustainable 3D Printing
Rosario Carmenini, Matteo Dalle Donne, Erica Locatelli, Letizia Sambri, Loris Giorgini, Laura Mazzocchetti, Mauro Comes Franchini
Abstract
The growing interest in 3D printing highlights the need for new formulations that enhance sustainability by utilizing renewable substrates due to their predominantly fossil-derived nature found in most commercial applications produced. In this context, itaconic acid and glycerol carbonate (a glycerol derivative) are two promising building blocks that can be combined to synthesize a cyclic itaconate carbonate suitable for vat photopolymerization. This study describes the synthesis and chemical characterization of a novel monofunctional photopolymerizable monomer, glycerol carbonate methyl itaconate (GCI), which was incorporated into two resin types, with soft and rigid properties, demonstrating high compatibility and increasing the overall biobased content up to 77 wt %. Mechanical testing revealed that the GCI enhanced the rigidity of soft resins while improving the elongation properties of rigid formulations. These results indicate that GCI not only improves the sustainability of fossil-based resins but also imparts added functionality, broadening the potential applications of itaconic acid-derived monomers.