Photosensitive resin is a polymer material that rapidly solidifies under visible or ultraviolet light exposure. It is widely used in fields such as 3D printing, orthodontic molds, and precision instrument manufacturing. Its key features include high accuracy, fast reaction speed, and smooth surface finish, making it one of the core materials in photopolymerization-based additive manufacturing. In recent years, driven by the rise of intelligent manufacturing and on-demand customization, both the market demand and technological advancement of photosensitive resins have significantly increased, positioning them as a popular material for high-precision printing applications.

The composition of photosensitive resin primarily consists of oligomers, monomers, photoinitiators, and various additives. Oligomers, often acrylates or polyurethane acrylates, determine the final print's mechanical strength and thermal resistance. Monomers adjust the viscosity and actively participate in the polymerization process. Photoinitiators initiate polymerization upon exposure to specific wavelengths of light, rapidly converting the resin from a liquid to a solid state. To meet diverse application needs, functional additives such as clarifiers, colorants, and anti-yellowing agents can be included to tailor the resin’s performance.

The 3D printing process using photosensitive resin generally involves two steps: surface exposure and layer-by-layer scanning. When light irradiates the resin surface, it instantly cures. The platform then moves to allow printing of the next layer. Thanks to its rapid curing and high resolution (with layer thicknesses as fine as 0.025 mm), photosensitive resin is particularly advantageous for printing miniature structures or parts with complex geometries.

In the current market, photosensitive resins come in a wide variety of types, categorized by performance into standard, tough, high-temperature, transparent, and biocompatible resins. Standard resins are typically used for industrial prototypes and model making due to their affordability and ease of use. Tough resins are suitable for parts that must withstand mechanical stress, such as snap-fit connectors. High-temperature resins are ideal for mold production and heat-resistant components, withstanding temperatures up to 100°C. Transparent resins are used in the production of light covers and visible housings. Biocompatible resins, after undergoing special treatment, are suitable for medical and dental applications that demand high safety standards. Furthermore, with ongoing material innovation, future developments may include photosensitive resins capable of sintering ceramic powders, enabling the creation of ceramic-based structural parts for demanding fields like aerospace and electronics.

Despite their many advantages, photosensitive resins do have limitations. They are generally more expensive than thermoplastic materials such as PLA and ABS used in FDM printing. Printed parts often have limited strength and can be brittle, making them unsuitable for sustained impact loads. Printing also requires a controlled environment, typically enclosed equipment with ventilation, to prevent exposure to potentially irritating vapors from uncured resin. Additionally, printed parts must undergo post-processing steps such as washing, alcohol cleaning, and secondary curing, making the workflow more complex and requiring experience and proper equipment.

In terms of applications, photosensitive resin is most commonly used in rapid prototyping, design validation, and customized part manufacturing. In fast-paced product development cycles where demand often outpaces supply, engineers can use photopolymerization to quickly produce functional prototypes for dimensional verification, assembly testing, or market demonstration—greatly reducing development time and mold costs. In industries such as modeling, prototyping, and architectural scale models, its high level of detail reproduction has earned wide recognition. In the dental and medical fields, photosensitive resin combined with 3D scanning enables efficient production of high-precision, customized tools such as molds and dental prosthetics.Looking forward, as environmental regulations tighten and awareness of material safety grows, biodegradable and renewable-resource-based photosensitive resins are drawing increasing attention. On the performance front, the development of resins with enhanced strength, toughness, and weather resistance remains a major industry trend. With the miniaturization and intelligent evolution of printing equipment, photosensitive resins are expected to expand into consumer-level markets, empowering sectors like education, design, and healthcare.

In conclusion, photosensitive resin, as a high-performance material for 3D printing, offers significant advantages such as rapid curing, high precision, fine detailing, and broad applicability. Through continuous optimization of formulation and printing parameters, and alignment with industry needs, photosensitive resin is poised to play an increasingly central role in future smart and digital manufacturing ecosystems