Light scattering in a three-phase photosensitive system via Monte Carlo approach

Abstract

Digital light processing (DLP)-based additive manufacturing has emerged as a powerful technique for fabricating structures from filled resin systems, in which the light scattering behavior is critical to the dimensional fidelity of the cured part. Recently created low density filled resins that incorporate hollow microspheres introduce a third optically active phase, producing yet more complex scattering and cure behaviours that existing empirical relationships cannot predict. This study simulates light scattering in these systems via Mie theory and a novel Monte Carlo model, providing insight into the relationship between filler volume fraction and cured dimensions, and proposes an inversion parameter for predicting film dimensions. Cured resin geometry dimensions such as cured depth (C_D) and cured width (C_W) are predicted using the developed model for 10, 30, and 50 vol% hollow glass microsphere filled resin systems. In contrast to standard two-phase models, our three-phase model predicts a positive relationship between cured depths and half-widths and the filler volume fraction, consistent with experimental data. By elucidating the intricacies of light scattering in three-phase systems, this work provides valuable insights for advancing DLP-based additive manufacturing and designing filled resin formulations to achieve the desired cured dimensions.