Optimization of a High Internal Phase Emulsion-Based Resin for Use in Commercial Vat Photopolymerization Additive Manufacturing

High internal phase emulsions (HIPEs) are potential stereolithography-based resins for producing innovative lightweight porous materials; however, the use of these has only been shown in bespoke stereolithography setups. These studies indicated that HIPEs tend to scatter light during structuring through stereolithography, and can produce poorly defined low-resolution structures, but inclusion absorbers drastically increase printing resolution. In this study, we focused on biocompatible within resin compatibility those with a commercial vat photopolymerization additive manufacturing (or stereolithography) setup. A surfactant (hypermer)-stabilized water-in-oil emulsion based 2-ethylhexyl-acrylate isobornyl-acrylate was used. For absorbers, both hydrophobic (beta-carotene) hydrophilic (tartrazine) molecules were used, which dissolve organic aqueous phase, respectively. It found using combination beta-carotene tartrazine provided best 3D addition, stable duration process showed polyHIPE structure open surface porosity. The formulation HIPE-based permits them be used wide range applications since complex structures could fabricated from HIPEs.