Study of liquid photopolymer 3D printing resins exposed to accelerated aging for cultural heritage purposes

Purpose This paper aims to study the suitability of a selection of 3D printing liquid photopolymer resins for their application in the cultural heritage context. Design/methodology/approach The main concerns regarding the conservation and restoration of cultural assets are the chemical composition and long-term behavior of the new materials that will be in contact with the original object. Because of this, four different LED curing resins were exposed to an accelerated aging procedure and tested to identify the materials which demonstrated a better result. Some specific properties of the material (color, glossiness, pH and volatile organic compound emissions) were measured before and after the exposure. Findings Some of the properties measured reported good results demonstrating a decent stability against the selected aging conditions. The main changes were produced in the colorimetric aspect, probably indicating other chemical reactions in the material. Likewise, a case study could be also executed to demonstrate the usefulness of these materials in the cultural field. Research limitations/implications It is necessary to study in more detail the long-lasting behavior of the materials employed with these technologies. Further analysis should be carried out highlighting the chemical composition and degradation process of the materials proposed. Originality/value This paper contributes to the introduction of curing 3D printing resins in the restoration methodologies of cultural assets. For this, the study of a selection of properties represents the first stage to suggest or reject their use.