Depolymerizable photopolymer resins for SLA 3D printing are emerging as a way to close the recycling loop for thermoset materials. Unlike conventional UV-cured resins that permanently harden, these special resins can be broken back down into their original liquid state by applying heat (at either 80°C or 150°C). The chemistry relies on dynamic disulfide or dithioacetal bonds that dissociate under heat. Company 3Dresyns sells ready-to-use circular resin and additives, though at a steep €833/kg. Academic research from 2024 and 2025 has demonstrated closed-loop photopolymerization cycles, with potential applications in sacrificial molds, reusable tooling, and jigs.
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