Plenary Lectures and VIP Guests

Dr. Jose Bonilla-Cruz

Abstract:

Vat photopolymerization, particularly Digital Light Processing (DLP), has emerged as a powerful additive manufacturing technology for producing complex three-dimensional polymer architectures with high resolution and precise geometric control.[1} Beyond conventional 3D printing, this technology enables the design of photocurable materials at the molecular level and the establishment of relationships among chemical structure, photopolymerization behavior, processing conditions, and resulting functional properties.

In this presentation, we will discuss on the development of functional polymeric materials for vat photopolymerization, focusing on the design and formulation of photocurable systems and their transformation into functional 3D architectures by DLP. Different approaches to incorporating chemical functionality into printable materials will be presented, including modifications to polymer backbones and the integration of functional components into photocurable formulations.{2,3} Particular attention will be given to the relationships among material composition, photopolymerization, printability, and the structure–property relationships that develop after 3D printing.

Examples of our work involving polyhydroxyurethane-based materials, functionalized poly(vinyl alcohol) systems, acrylic monomers, and photoluminescent polymer networks{4} will be discussed to illustrate how molecular and formulation design can be used to tailor the optical, mechanical, and interfacial properties of printed architectures. The possibility of controlling functionality through printing parameters and multilayer architectures will also be highlighted.

Overall, these studies demonstrate that vat photopolymerization can be considered not only a manufacturing technique but also a materials engineering platform in which molecular design, photochemistry, formulation, and three-dimensional architecture can be integrated simultaneously to produce advanced functional materials.