TECHNOLOGY/BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY DUAL-MATERIAL FOR TWO-PHOTON PRINTING FOR HIGH-RESOLUTION, MULTI-MATERIAL 3D STRUCTURE MANUFACTURING

Opportunity:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), operated by the Lawrence Livermore National Security (LLNS), LLC under contract no. DE-AC52-07NA27344 (Contract 44) with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), is offering the opportunity to enter into a collaboration to further develop and commercialize its Dual-Material for Two-photon Printing for High-resolution, Multi-material 3D Structure Manufacturing.

Background:

Commercial TPP systems generally utilize single femtosecond laser beams (typically 800 nm wavelength). The use of a single femtosecond laser at a fixed wavelength presents certain limitations in photochemistry for materials and resolution capabilities.  Introducing a dual-wavelength, two laser TPP system with tunable wavelengths and advanced beam shaping can significantly enhance the controllability and availability of different photo-chemistries for multi-material printing with higher resolution.  The challenge then is designing a single vat TPP printing formulation which takes advantage of the dual-wavelength, two laser TPP system.  Optimizing the chemistries to allow for two different polymer resin mixtures to be combined which interact independently of each other at each of the different wavelengths used is an especially challenging task.

Description:

LLNL researchers have developed a new two-photon polymerization multimaterial resin formulation consisting of two reactively distinct polymer systems.  The first system consists of a liquid, optically clear, epoxy resin which undergoes polymerization via type I photoacid generator (PAG) with a photo absorber at 700 nm while the second part is an acrylic system with a customized high cross-section photoinitiator with a high absorption at 700nm and 1045nm.  By combining both polymer resin formulations into a single vat and using a custom two laser, dual wavelength TPP printer system, LLNL researchers can print complex structures.  They are able to print structures where the walls of the structures are printed at 700 nm, yielding a fully solid structure by activating both acrylic and epoxide chemistry, while the internal octet structure is printed using 1045nm fixed beam, which only activates the acrylic—allowing the unreacted epoxy to be washed away in the post processing procedure leaving a more porous material.

Advantages/Benefits: 

1. Ability to selectively trigger disparate photochemistry enabling heterogeneous materials in a 3D structure in high resolution.
2. Ability to control and tune printed materials’ optical, mechanical, and electrochemical properties for various applications. For example, refractive index, Young’s modulus, porosity, density, wettability can be spatially tuned.
3. The combination of structure and material control imparts unique functionality.
4. The approach simplifies the manufacturing process by finishing the heterogeneous structure in a single vat process without changing the precursor resin.

Potential Applications: 

Inertial confinement fusion (ICF) printing of target fuel capsules, ability to print in a single vat resin system with density control, soft/hard material compositions, polymer/metal printing, precision medical.  In essence the ability to print and tune physical properties while maintaining the high resolution of TPP printers using a single multimaterial, multi component resin formulation.

Development Status: 

Current stage of technology development: TRL ☐ 0-2     ☒ 3-5     ☐ 5-9

LLNL has filed for patent protection on this invention.

LLNL is seeking industry partners with a demonstrated ability to bring such inventions to the market. Moving critical technology beyond the Laboratory to the commercial world helps our licensees gain a competitive edge in the marketplace. All licensing activities are conducted under policies relating to the strict nondisclosure of company proprietary information. 

Please visit the IPO website at https://ipo.llnl.gov/resources for more information on working with LLNL and the industrial partnering and technology transfer process.

Note:  THIS IS NOT A PROCUREMENT.  Companies interested in commercializing LLNL's Dual-Material for Two-photon Printing for High-resolution, Multi-material 3D Structure Manufacturing should provide an electronic OR written statement of interest, which includes the following:

1. Company Name and address.
2. The name, address, and telephone number of a point of contact.
3. A description of corporate expertise and/or facilities relevant to commercializing this technology.

Please provide a complete electronic OR written statement to ensure consideration of your interest in LLNL's Dual-Material for Two-photon Printing for High-resolution, Multi-material 3D Structure Manufacturing.

The subject heading in an email response should include the Notice ID and/or the title of LLNL’s Technology/Business Opportunity and directed to the Primary and Secondary Point of Contacts listed below.

Written responses should be directed to:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Innovation and Partnerships Office

P.O. Box 808, L-779

Livermore, CA  94551-0808

Attention: IL-13998