Modelling Material Transformation in Light-based Volumetric Additive Manufacturing

At the Programmable Biomaterials Lab (PBL), our goal is to solve some of the major challenges facing large-scale and high-throughput bioproduction via innovative 3D light-assisted programming of matter. We envision a future where objects are produced, mechanisms triggered and materials handled purely by photons. We’re here to perfect our engineering and scientific prowess in harnessing this massive potential. We are part of the Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MAPS) Faculty, based at the UCL Institute for Materials Discovery (IMD), a focal point of materials research at UCL across all departments. The IMD strives to be at the forefront of advanced materials research and teaching. We run state-of-the-art experimental and computational facilities across UCL’s Bloomsbury and UCL East campuses. We are pioneering novel data-driven approaches for materials discovery, understanding fundamental materials behaviour, developing innovative sustainable materials for new innovative applications and boosting enterprise (i.e., industry) oriented materials research. 

In 2019 we demonstrated a method for manufacturing objects by rotating a photopolymer in a dynamically evolving light field. This allowed us to print entire complex objects through one complete revolution, circumventing the need for layering. The method was particularly useful for high-viscosity photopolymers and fast contact-free fabrication. Many advancements have been made to enhance the predictability and model the evolution of the material as the 3D object is manufactured in the volumetric 3D printer. You will delve deeper into the spatiotemporal domain of the photopolymerization process, and attempt to simulate the volumetric 3D printing process with the inclusion of a more accurate chemical conversion and kinetic model as well as an experiment-driven mechanical transformation model which you will implement in your simulation tool. You will utilize various stat-of-art experimental material characterization tools to obtain relationships and interdependencies of these various properties, and use the acquired data to build your model. You will then validate and compare your simulation tool against a variety of objects printed with our volumetric 3D printers.

You will conduct research in the field of optical biomaterials, additive manufacturing and photochemical process simulation of the volumetric 3D printing system, developing, building and validating a holistic simulation program. You will deliver and report on your project results including in major journals, conferences and workshops. The position is centred at our new UCL East campus but will offer opportunities to engage in UCL Bloomsbury campus in central London.