Photo-ROMP resins for DLP 3D printing - new Materials Advances publication

Photo-ROMP resins for DLP 3D printing – new Materials Advances publication

A new paper published in Materials Advances demonstrates that photo‑initiated ring‑opening metathesis polymerization (photo‑ROMP) can be successfully applied to DLP 3D printing when the catalyst system is designed with practical processing constraints in mind.

The study reports a class of cyclic olefin‑based photo‑ROMP resins activated under 395 nm light using a latent ruthenium alkylidene catalyst developed by Apeiron Synthesis. The catalyst plays a central role in enabling fast photo‑activation, long shelf‑life, and compatibility with solvent‑free resin formulations required for vat photopolymerization.

From laboratory chemistry to printable materials

Unlike many previously reported photo‑ROMP systems based on dicyclopentadiene, the resins described in this work are non‑volatile, non‑flammable and exhibit no detectable odor. The latent Ru catalyst is fully soluble in neat monomer, eliminating the need for additional solvents and simplifying resin formulation.

The authors demonstrate that the photo‑ROMP system delivers:

• rapid polymerization under DLP‑relevant irradiation conditions,

• excellent shelf‑life and vat‑life stability,

• high molecular weight polymers,

• thermomechanical properties of 3D printed parts comparable to those obtained by flood curing.

Following optimization with a light absorber and base quencher, the resin formulations enabled stable DLP printing of complex objects, with post‑cured printed parts showing high stiffness, thermal resistance and impact strength relative to typical vat photopolymer resins.

Catalyst design matters

This work highlights how latent ruthenium catalyst design directly impacts the viability of photo‑ROMP in additive manufacturing, bridging the gap between metathesis chemistry and industrially relevant 3D printing technologies. The results underline the importance of catalyst solubility, latency, and controlled photo‑activation for reliable printing performance.

The publication further strengthens the role of Apeiron’s ruthenium metathesis catalysts in emerging applications beyond conventional polymer synthesis, including advanced manufacturing and photopolymer technologies.

Reference

Burtovyy et al., Materials Advances, 2026
“Properties of Cyclic Olefin‑Based Photo‑ROMP Resins Suitable for DLP 3D Printing Applications”
DOI: 10.1039/D5MA01316J