Polyimide and other high-performance aromatic plastics cannot normally be 3D printed be…
This technology enables 3D printing of high-performance aromatic plastics — specifically polyimides, which are known for exceptional heat resistance and mechanical strength — using a light-curing process. The key innovation is a specially formulated liquid resin made from a polyamic acid salt that can be crosslinked (hardened) when exposed to ultraviolet light, making it compatible with vat photopolymerization or direct ink writing 3D printers. Traditionally, polyimides require high-temperature curing that is incompatible with most additive manufacturing equipment; this chemistry sidesteps that barrier. The result is the ability to print complex, heat-resistant plastic parts using standard UV-based 3D printing hardware.
What you could build
A commercial photoresin product sold to industrial and aerospace 3D printing users who need to print heat-resistant, chemically durable components — such as connectors, brackets, and insulators — that currently require injection molding or machining. Defense suppliers, electronics manufacturers, and aerospace OEMs would be the primary buyers.
Who in Virginia should care
Defense contractors and aerospace suppliers concentrated in Northern Virginia and the Hampton Roads corridor — particularly those needing custom high-temperature components in small production runs — would be natural early adopters or licensing targets.
Readiness: Lab validated
Concept — described but not yet demonstrated. Lab validated — supported by experimental results in the patent. Prototype likely — the text describes a built, working embodiment.
Readiness is inferred from the patent text, not from a lab visit.
The record
- Inventors
- Daniel RAU, Jana HERZBERGER, Timothy LONG, Christopher WILLIAMS
- Granted
- March 18, 2025
- Status
- Granted patent
- Patent number
- 12252619
Ready to talk?
Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties handles licensing for this technology.
Prosim summaries are generated from public patent text and are not legal advice.