A Bright Future for Light-Cured Composite Materials
Alan J. Jacobsen, Light Composites LLC
Abstract:Although light-cured composite materials have been around for decades, their general use has been limited. Recent advancements in light-curing technology, such as the development of new photoinitiators, new monomers and oligomers, and new light sources, provide opportunities to expand the application space of light-cured composite materials.
In this talk, I will provide a basic overview of composite materials and highlight some of the unique benefits light-cured composites can enable for various applications, ranging from low-cost prototyping to high-rate production of lightweight composite parts. In addition, I will describe a specific example where light-cured composite materials are enabling a new, innovative approach for manufacturing footwear products.