Preparation and Characterization of Excellent Performance Photosensitive Resin Suitable for Photocuring 3D Printing

ABSTRACT This paper aimed to prepare oligomers (IA‐GMA) through ring‐opening reactions using biologically derived itaconic acid (IA) and epoxy methacrylate (GMA). By mixing IA‐GMA, isobornyl acrylate (IBOA), and various diluents, followed by dilution and addition of photoinitiators and crosslinking agents, a light‐curing resin for 3D printing was prepared. The ring‐opening reaction introduced a large number of double bonds into IA‐GMA to enhance photopolymerization efficiency; the resin formulation was optimized by changing the type of diluent and the concentration of photoinitiator. The mechanical properties, thermal performance, and flexibility of the 3D printing material were systematically studied. Experimental results showed that when acrylamide (ACMO) was used as a diluent and the photoinitiator concentration was 4 wt%, the light‐curing resin exhibited excellent mechanical properties and thermal stability. The impact strength reached 1.88 kJ/m 2 , the tensile strength reached 41 MPa, and it also had excellent flexibility (540° in one direction). Compared with traditional petroleum‐based resins, the light‐curing resin based on IA showed no significant performance disadvantage, contributing to the development of environmentally friendly, balanced‐performance photopolymer resins for additive manufacturing applications.