Reinforcement of Stereolithography Resin with Silica-Based Fillers

Abstract

This study investigated the improvement of hardness and flexural properties of a commercial stereolithography (SLA) resin by reinforcement with silica-based fillers. Three types of fillers were studied: synthetic amorphous silica, milled fiberglass, and geothermal scale powder. Particle size and aspect ratio of fillers were estimated from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images, while chemical structure was characterized by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy. Fillers were added to SLA resin at 0, 10, and 20 vol%. Hardness and flexural properties of SLA composites are higher than unfilled resin. Moreover, both hardness and flexural properties of SLA composites are improved according to type (milled fiberglass > synthetic amorphous silica > geothermal scale powder) and loading (20 vol% > 10 vol%). The observed effect of filler type and loading on hardness and flexural properties of SLA composites is due to aspect ratio, intrinsic properties and dispersion of filler.