Enhanced Mechanical Properties of the Additively Manufactured Modified Hybrid Stereolithography (SLA)–Glass Powder

This research successfully enhances the mechanical properties of the ready-market resin product additively printed by using stereolithography (SLA) reinforced with glass powder. Using Esun Standard Resin (Shenzhen, China), various proportions of glass powder (0%, 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 25%) were mixed to create test specimens. The results indicated that the incorporation of glass powder markedly enhanced tensile strength and hardness. Specimens containing 25% glass powder exhibited a tensile strength of 37.01 MPa and a hardness of 84.5 HV, in contrast to 24.03 MPa and 73.7 HV for those without glass powder. The density rose with the addition of glass powder, attaining 1.338 g/cm3 at 25% concentration. Nevertheless, heightened brittleness and reduced strain values signified a compromise between strength and ductility. Compression testing revealed increased maximum stress but more brittleness with higher glass powder content, while flexural testing demonstrated diminished flexural strength attributed to inadequate filler adherence and dispersion. This study highlights that the addition of glass powder to SLA resins can improve mechanical strength while reducing flexibility and ductility. Enhancing the concentration and dispersion of glass powder is crucial for attaining a balance in mechanical properties, which enhances SLA 3D printing for dependable, high-performance engineering applications.