Reprintable Polymers for Digital Light Processing 3D Printing
Guangda Zhu, Yi Hou, Jian Xu, Ning Zhao
Abstract
Abstract 3D printing is becoming a disruptive technology and shows great potential for various practical applications. Specially, digital light processing (DLP) 3D printing demonstrates advantages in high resolution and high efficiency. However, extensive production of infusible and insoluble thermosets in DLP printing causes serious resource waste and environmental problems after its disposal. Herein, a reprintable linear polymer is reported for repeatable DLP printing. Taking advantage of the dissolution of linear polymer in its monomer, printed objects can be recycled into liquid resin and reprinted via the same DLP. Polymerization kinetics and printing resolution of recycled resins and mechanical properties of reprinted polymers retain identical as the original. The thermoplastic nature of linear polymer endows 3D objects with welding and reshaping property. Recyclable composites are also successfully fabricated, and sustainable usage of high‐value fillers comes true. This strategy helps to address environmental issues arising from unprocessable thermosets and may contribute to an efficient materials recycling.