Xolography for volumetric 3D printing of thermoplastic materials: understanding of the correlation between solubility and resolution

This study investigates the volumetric 3D printing of thermoplastic materials using xolography. Employing the Hoftyzer and Van Krevelen model to estimate solubility parameters, we explored various factors influencing the printing process, including resin viscosity and polarity, and polymer solubility in the resins. Three strategies were implemented to increase printing resolution in xolography by increasing the resin viscosity, enhancing the resin polarity, and incorporating monomers with strong hydrogen-bonding capabilities. These strategies promoted polymer precipitation at lower monomer conversions, enabling the fabrication of high-resolution thermoplastic 3D structures via xolography. Importantly, the printed materials demonstrated solubility in selected solvents, highlighting their potential for further processing or recycling.