journal article·2025-09Open access

Dual‐Wavelength Vat Photopolymerization With Dissolvable, Recyclable Support Structures

Nicholas S. Diaco, Carl J. Thrasher, Max M. Hughes, Kevin A. Zhou, Michael N. Durso, Saechow Yap, Robert J. Macfarlane, A. John Hart

Advanced Materials Technologies· Volume 10· Issue 17

Abstract

Abstract Vat photopolymerization (VP) additive manufacturing (AM) is valued for its speed, precision, and material versatility. However, its requirement for support structures limits printable geometries, complicates post‐processing, and generates non‐recyclable waste when typical thermoset resins are used. Here, a wavelength‐selective resin system for VP that enables single‐vat, multi‐material printing with dissolvable supports is introduced. Exposure to visible light produces a rigid, dissolvable thermoplastic, while UV light forms a crosslinked thermoset resistant to dissolution. This process, termed selective solubility vat photopolymerization (SSVP), eliminates the geometric constraints imposed by conventional VP methods, facilitating the creation of complex objects with supports that are removable using green and food‐safe solvents such as D‐limonene and ethyl acetate, as well as mineral oil. Post‐print heat treatment tunes crosslink density and solubility. Dissolved supports can be recycled into fresh resin and reprinted without mechanical property loss, offering a practical, scalable route to reducing waste. Additionally, SSVP provides spatial control of dissolution kinetics, enabling programmable 3D dissolution profiles. By enabling the integration of dissolvable and insoluble regions in a single print, SSVP sets the stage for fully automated and more sustainable AM workflows.
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Research context

OpenAlex topics: Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Technologies · Photopolymerization techniques and applications · 3D Printing in Biomedical Research

SciVX discovery tags are terminology-based. OpenAlex topics are source-provided classifications.

Affiliations

Department of Mechanical Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA 02139 USA

Department of Materials Science and Engineering Massachusetts Institute of Technology Cambridge MA 02139 USA

Funding

Office of Naval Research · Army Research Office · National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

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