The Photopolymerization Process 3D Printing market is expected to grow from US$4.614 billion in 2025 to US$10.476 billion in 2030, at a CAGR of 17.82%.
Three-dimensional printing is rapidly gaining momentum in industrial and academic research environments alike. Rapid prototyping, tooling, dentistry, microfluidics, biomedical devices, tissue engineering, drug delivery, etc. are just a few of the applications of 3D printing technologies that have been developed in recent years. One of the most flexible methods of 3D printing, photopolymerization, enabled by polymer chemistry with diverse properties, is the photopolymerization-based process (e.g. stereolithography and digital light processing). Through photopolymerization, it is also now possible to create accurate 3D models of a patient's anatomical regions, using data from computer scans. This technique also has a high resolution that makes it ideal for all types of prototyping, as well as mass production. A number of printing technologies have used polymers, such as inkjet printing and the newly popular 3D printing. Printing companies use it heavily because it produces better results.
In February 2021, Nexa3D and Henkel, for example, introduced a new class of photoelastic for high-performance 3D printing. Henkel and Nexa3D announced that Nexa3D will be supplying three new photopolymer materials within the global Nexa3D channel in response to Henkel's increased demand for stereolithography 3D printing. Moreover, Azul 3D partnered with Wilson Sporting Goods to display HARP's capabilities in order to open up the market for high-speed photopolymerization. Two new 3D printed pickleball paddles were designed in collaboration with the two companies, which could revolutionise pickleball and its playing style. These developments are expected to boost the growth of 3D polymerization printing.
In photopolymerization, ultraviolet light is used to cure the resin. During 3D printing, it is used to cure deposited material. The deposited material is cured by ultraviolet light. A cure makes the deposited material into a solid, turning it from a semi-solid or liquid state into a solid. As soon as the 3D printer has finished printing a layer, it projects a UV light over it. When exposed to UV light, the deposited material undergoes a reaction, effectively solidifying. In the cured state, the material becomes solid, and the 3D printer can produce a solid, finished object. A major 3D technique using photopolymers is stereolithography. Furthermore, companies are always releasing new products to keep up with the competition. A joint portfolio of polymers from BASF's Forward AM 3D printing unit and materials and systems manufacturer Photocentric has been released. The new resins were developed as part of an ongoing strategic partnership between Photocentric and Forward AM. They are designed to work with Photocentric's LCD systems. The companies will jointly market ten visible light photopolymers as part of their efforts to "industrialize additive manufacturing."
A 3D-printable photopolymer with the world's highest strain was launched by Adaptive3D Technologies on April 24th, 2021. The company has partnered with several Fortune 500 companies to develop proprietary chemistry for photo-curable resins, which allows materials to be more durable and parts to be stronger. With a 450% strain, the material is 115% stronger than its closest competitor. A new system by 3D printing start-up Fortify, called Continuous Kinetic Mixing (CKM), will enable 3D-printed photopolymers to feature new functionality. Fortify says its new system is designed to address longstanding challenges in the processing of filled resins in additive manufacturing as well as meet market demand for advanced material properties. Evonik's Infiniam® TI 3100 L and Infiniam® ST 6100 L photopolymers are suitable for industrial 3D printing applications. Two new ready-to-use polymer resins have been released for use with common technologies for VAT polymerization, such as SLA or DLP.
The disadvantage of this material is that it is more complicated to process (for example, a careful pre-and post-exposure bake is needed), and the final structure is slightly distorted. Due to the fact that DLP 3D printing technology is highly precise, it can only print small models. Hence, it is mostly used in the fields of jewelry casting and dentistry. Further, the components only have a limited degree of UV resistance. Consequently, photopolymerization 3D printing market growth is likely to be hindered by these factors.
Market Segmentation