KAIST Secures Technology to Enhance Durability of "Photocurable 3D Printing"

A domestic research team has secured a new technology to enhance the durability of "photocurable 3D printing." While photocurable 3D printing has been widely used in various fields-from dental treatments to the production of complex prototypes-thanks to its speed and precision, it has also been criticized for its vulnerability to damage from impact.

KAIST announced on the 29th that the research team led by Professor Miso Kim from the Department of Mechanical Engineering has developed a new technology that fundamentally addresses the durability limitations of photocurable 3D printing.

(Front row) Nam Jisoo, Doctoral Candidate, (Back row from left) Fu Xin Chen, Doctoral Candidate, Miso Kim, Professor. Provided by KAIST

Photocurable 3D printing allows for the creation of freeform shapes, but it has shown weaknesses in terms of durability.

To solve this problem, the research team combined a new photocurable resin material-capable of absorbing impact and vibration while expressing various material properties such as rubber and plastic-with a machine learning-based design technology that automatically allocates optimal strength to each part of a structure.

First, the team developed a "polyurethane acrylate (PUA)" material with dynamic bonding, which dramatically improved impact and vibration absorption compared to existing materials. They then applied "grayscale DLP" technology, which adjusts the intensity of light to implement different strengths within a single resin composition, successfully providing customized strength to each part of a structure.

This achievement was inspired by the principle that bones and cartilage in the human body perform different functions and work in harmony.

The machine learning algorithm analyzes the structure and load conditions to automatically propose the optimal strength distribution. According to the research team, this enables seamless integration of material development and structural design, making customized strength distribution possible.

Another notable aspect of this research is its improved cost-effectiveness. Previously, expensive "multi-material printing" technologies were used to achieve diverse material properties. However, the technology developed by the team achieves the same effect with a single material and a single process, reducing production costs. It also eliminates the need for complex equipment or material management, and AI-based structural optimization further reduces research and development time and product design costs.

Professor Kim stated, "This technology is significant in that it simultaneously expands the freedom of material properties and structural design. Applying this technology will allow patient-specific implants to have enhanced durability and comfort, and precision machine parts can be manufactured more robustly than before."

She added, "Above all, the ability to realize various strengths with just a single material and a single process-while maintaining cost-effectiveness-will likely expand its applications to a wide range of industries, including biomedical, aerospace, and robotics."

This research was supported by the Ministry of Science and ICT and carried out as part of the National Research Foundation of Korea's BRIDGE Convergence R&D Program, the Mid-Career Researcher Support Program, and the Next-Generation Semiconductor Micro-Substrate Technology Development Project. The research results were recently published online in the materials science journal Advanced Materials.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.