Researchers from France and Australia worked together recently to develop new 3D printing materials, apprising us of the details in the recently published ‘Free Radical Photopolymerization and 3D Printing Using Newly Developed Dyes: Indane-1,3-Dione and 1H-Cyclopentanaphthalene-1,3-Dione Derivatives as Photoinitiators in Three-Component Systems.’
In an effort to encourage free radical polymerization in mild conditions like low light intensity, the researchers developed new dyes for use in multicomponent photoinitiating systems at 405nm LED. Two series of dyes were used as they offered the first study centered around the ‘structure–performance relationship for irradiation.’
As research into photopolymerization continues, better performance from photoinitiators is required. In this study, the authors concentrated on refining the process for greater efficiency, examining critical parameters, properties, energy levels, stability, and more. For developing improved dyes, the research team focused on those with strong electronic delocalization.
Two series of dyes were explored and evaluated regarding absorption wavelengths:
“… hence, the comparison of their efficiency for a same wavelength (405nm) will allow a comparison of their performance.”
Twenty-one dyes were assessed, with all of them addressing problems regarding photoinitiator design.
“Notably, the different dyes could be prepared using one of the simplest reactions known in organic chemistry, namely, the Knoevenagel reaction which was reported for the first time in 1896,” explained the researchers. “As for specificity, the concepts of Green chemistry could also be applied. Thus, ethanol could be used as a safe solvent and no expensive transition metal complexes are required to condense the aldehyde onto the activated methylene groups of the different electron acceptors.
“Parallel to this, the different dyes reported in this work could be prepared in high reaction yields (ranging between 74 and 94% yields), without extensive purification processes since all dyes precipitated in ethanol after reaction.”
The researchers used basic filtration for setting the molecules in ‘pure form,’ noting that such an exercise was actually of ‘crucial importance’ because the filtration was cheap, simple, and could be easily used within the industry. The dyes also become attractive for use due to the potential for using green solvents in the fabrication process. Another point of interest is that the dyes were also used for the first time in photoinitiating systems made up of a tertiary amine, ethyl dimethylaminobenzoate (EDB), and iodonium salt.
“Among all dyes, some of them showed high final monomer conversions and remarkable photoinitiating abilities,” stated the researchers.
Dyes 2, 5, 14, 16, 17 and 20 were all noted as ‘the most promising candidates,’ while 5, 14, 16, 17 and 20 were considered to be superior in terms of polymerization rates.
The most appealing properties of the promising dye were found in dye 5, as follows:
- Synthesis in high reaction yield, using a Green synthesis and simple workup
- Suitable solubility for monomers
- High molar extinction coefficient
- Low oxidation potential
- Unique bleaching properties
Dye 17 was also considered to be a good photoinitiator.
“The electron transfer between dyes, iodonium salt and amine in the FRP process are confirmed by both free energy change calculations and ESR experiments. Interestingly, very good photobleaching properties and fluorescence quenching of dye 5 were detected,” concluded the researchers. “It was also found that both good light absorption properties and excellent photochemical reactivity in the excited state processes (redox reactions) are required for the dyes to reach efficient photoinitiating systems.
“Finally, some 3D patterns were written using these three-component photoinitiating systems. To conclude, our research contributes to improve the knowledge of photopolymerization carried out at 405 nm with LEDs by the development of new PISs comprising push–pull chromophores. By improving the electron accepting ability of the naphthalene-based electron acceptor, PISs operating in the near infrared region could be developed and the synthesis of such dyes is currently under progress.”
A variety of different photoinitiators are being used today in 3D printing, to include plant-based, water-soluble, and more. What do you think of this news? Let us know your thoughts! Join the discussion of this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com.
Subscribe to Our Email Newsletter
Stay up-to-date on all the latest news from the 3D printing industry and receive information and offers from third party vendors.
You May Also Like
Pressing Refresh: What CEO Brad Kreger and Velo3D Have Learned About Running a 3D Printing Company
To whatever extent a business is successful thanks to specialization, businesses will nonetheless always be holistic entities. A company isn’t a bunch of compartments that all happen to share the...
Würth Additive Launches Digital Inventory Services Platform Driven by 3D Printing
Last week, at the Additive Manufacturing Users’ Group (AMUG) Conference in Chicago (March 10-14), Würth Additive Group (WAG) launched its new inventory management platform, Digital Inventory Services (DIS). WAG is...
Hypersonic Heats Up: CEO Joe Laurienti on the Success of Ursa Major’s 3D Printed Engine
“It’s only been about 24 hours now, so I’m still digesting it,” Joe Laurienti said. But even via Zoom, it was easy to notice that the CEO was satisfied. The...
3D Printing’s Next Generation of Leadership: A Conversation with Additive Minds’ Dr. Gregory Hayes
It’s easy to forget sometimes that social media isn’t reality. So, at the end of 2023, when a burst of doom and gloom started to spread across the Western world’s...