Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printing is an indispensable manufacturing technique that enables rapid and precise fabrication of specialized parts through the viscoplastic manipulation of photopolymer resins. Petrochemicals have long served as the preferred precursor for resin synthesis since the inception of SLA printing, as they are the ideal substrate for functional modification. These methods are entirely unsustainable and the toxic effects inherent to the production, application, and eventual degradation of these compounds poses profound environmental damage. Naturally derived olefins, such as plant oils, represent a sustainable alternative to petrochemicals and offer many benefits such as tunable mechanical properties and a capacity for functionalization (piezoelectric, photostrictive, and otherwise). In this project, we demonstrate that waste cooking oil, which is the most readily available source of plant oils, can be chemically transformed to a photocuring resin that has excellent mechanical properties and is compatible with SLA printing.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Guerra, Alexander
• Jones, Wirt

Subject

• Innovation
• Industry

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 106281
• E-project-042723-140036

Keyword

• Resin
• Soybean Oil
• Photopolymer
• 3D printing

Advisor

• Rao, Reeta Prusty
• Bhatia, Mehul A.

Year

• 2023

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 9 - Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
• 12 - Responsible Consumption and Production

Date created

• 2023-04-27

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Mechanical Engineering
• Biotechnology

Source

• E-project-042723-140036

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-06-14