Development of recyclable bio-based epoxy/acrylate blends for liquid crystal display 3D printing

Bio-based epoxy resins are widely utilized in various application fields such as adhesives, coatings, composites, and electrical components, offering comparable performance characteristics to conventional epoxy resins, including high strength, durability, and chemical resistance. The use of bio-based materials in 3D printing has been receiving increasing attention as a means of reducing the environmental impact of this technology, because most formulations available for stereolithography and digital light processing are generally non-renewable. This study aimed to explore the potential of blending a bio-based epoxy resin with a commercial daylight-curable resin at various msss percentages to enhance the thermomechanical properties of 3D-printed parts while adhering to the working principle of liquid crystal display (LCD) printers. The prepared formulations were initially characterized in terms of their thermo-mechanical properties both before and after post-treatments like photo- and thermal-curing. This procedure facilitated a comparison of the various blends based on their mechanical strength, glass transition temperature, and other pertinent properties. Upon identifying the optimal formulation, 3D-printed samples were produced using LCD printing technology. Calorimetric and morphological tests were then carried out to evaluate the thermal stability and microstructure of the printed parts. Overall, the findings of this study indicate that blending recyclable bio-based epoxy resins with commercial ones can lead to enhanced properties in additive manufactured parts. This approach has the potential to promote sustainability in 3D printing by reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources, while still meeting the standard performance required for numerous applications.