Single-vat single-cure grayscale digital light processing 3D printing of materials with large property difference and high stretchability

Multimaterial additive manufacturing is challenging due to material and printing technology limitations. This paper presents a resin design strategy for single-vat single-cure grayscale digital light processing (g-DLP) 3D printing, where light intensity controls monomer conversion to form a highly stretchable soft organogel to a stiff thermoset within a single layer. High modulus contrast and stretchability are realized simultaneously at high printing speed (1 mm/min). The capability enables 3D printed structures for biomimetic designs, inflatable soft robots and actuators, and soft stretchable electronics. This resin design strategy provides a material solution for multimaterial additive manufacturing.

Liang Yue, S. Macrae Montgomery, Xiaohao Sun, Luxia Yu, Yuyang Song, Tsuyoshi Nomura, Masato Tanaka, H. Jerry Qi