GoKawiilResearchers develop foaming photopolymer method for high-resolution biomimetic printing
Scientists demonstrated a direct foam patterning (DFP) technique that creates microscale porous foam structures across five different polymer types—polycarbonate, cellulose triacetate, PET, polysulfone, and PMMA—using UV light exposure through photomasks followed by chemical development. The process relies on thioxanthone or similar photoinitiators activated by 385nm LED light, with each polymer requiring tailored solvent development steps to reveal foam structures visible in cross-sectional imaging.