Research progress of light-curing 3D printing polymer materials

Light-curing 3D printing technology stands out as one of the oldest, fastest-growing and most widely used technologies in the field of 3D printing. This technology utilizes ultraviolet or other light sources to rapidly solidify liquid photosensitive polymers, creating products with complex geometrical structures that are difficult to achieve with traditional manufacturing methods. This paper summarizes the latest research progress in photocurable polymer materials for 3D printing, covering various types of photocurable polymers including thermoplastics with high remoldability, thermosets with good structural stability, and hydrogels with hygroscopic network cross-linking structures. Additionally, the applications of photocurable 3D printing polymers in various fields such as biomedical, flexible electronic devices, soft robotics, energy storage, and aerospace are discussed in detail. This review also explores the application of photocuring technology in 4D printing, highlighting the potential of 4D printing in dynamic materials and smart manufacturing. In the future, light-curing 3D printing technology is expected to advance toward the development of high-performance polymer composites, the integration of intelligent and automated printing systems, and the deep integration with cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, continually driving its applications and innovations in high-tech fields and advanced manufacturing.