Exploring the Functional Performance of a Commercial High-Temperature Photopolymer Resin for Vat Photopolymerized Injection Molding Tools

Conference · Wed Sep 17 04:00:00 EDT 2025

OSTI ID:2589261

Jones, Haley W. ^[1]; Rhodes, Andrew P. ^[1]; Mullins, Anastasia ^[1]; Chatham, Camden A. ^[1]

---

1. Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)

Additive manufacturing (AM) presents a promising approach for rapid tooling, offering significant reductions in production costs and lead times compared to that of conventional moldmaking processes. This work examines the fabrication of molds for injection molding through vat photopolymerization (VPP) AM, using a commercially available photopolymer resin intended for high temperature applications (High Temp V2 resin). The photorheological behavior of the resin is examined to evaluate its curing kinetics and mechanical development during polymerization, ensuring suitability for mold fabrication. The thermal and mechanical properties of the printed photopolymer resin are characterized, alongside assessments of dimensional accuracy and surface finish, which are critical factors influencing the performance and quality of injection molded parts. Additionally, specimens produced using VPP-fabricated molds are evaluated and benchmarked against those molded with traditional metal molds.

• Research Organization: Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), Aiken, SC (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; EM
• DOE Contract Number: 89303321CEM000080
• OSTI ID: 2589261
• Report Number(s): SRNL-STI-2025-00667
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English