Materials · DCPI
Dual-Color Photoinitiators
The chemistry behind Xolography
A dual-color photoinitiator (DCPI) cures the resin only where two colors of light cross. That is how Xolography builds a part directly inside the resin volume.
Why Xolography needs a DCPI
Standard photoinitiators react to a single wavelength. They start crosslinking along the whole path of a light beam, so on their own they cannot define a point inside a volume. Every Xolography resin contains a DCPI: premixed in xolo materials, or added by you to your own formulation.
How Xolography works >How our DCPI works
1
Dormant
In its dormant state, a DCPI does not start any reaction.
2
UV light sheet activates DCPI
A thin UV light sheet at 375 nm or 405 nm activates the DCPI molecules in one plane.
3
Projecting your 3D model
A projector plays a sequence of images in visible light, a video generated from your CAD file.
4
Crosslinking
Only DCPI molecules activated by the UV light sheet absorb this visible light. The resin crosslinks only where the two beams intersect.
5
Back to dormant state
As the resin vat moves on, the DCPI outside the UV light sheet quickly returns to its dormant state. This keeps crosslinking confined to the UV light sheet and details sharp.
Our DCPIs
Choose your DCPI by two things: the UV light sheet wavelength of your printer, and whether your resin is water-based (aqueous, polar) or not (non-aqueous, nonpolar). All DCPIs are available in 200 mg and 1 g vials.
Xell405 nm
Xube, Xube2375 nm or 405 nm
| DCPI | UV light sheet | Resin type | Best for | Used in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DCPI2001 | 375 nm | Non-aqueous | Acrylate and optical resins | xoloOne, xoloClear |
| DCPI2003 | 375 nm | Non-aqueous | Acrylate and optical resins; optimized for large build volumes | Your own formulations |
| DCPI3001 | 405 nm | Aqueous and non-aqueous | Flexible choice for 405 nm systems | xoloOne, xoloPEGDA |
| DCPI5004 | 375 nm | Aqueous, water-soluble | Hydrogels at physiological pH (7.4) | xoloGelMA X-Pure® |
| DCPI6001 | 405 nm | Aqueous, water-soluble | Hydrogels at physiological pH (7.4) | xoloGelMA X-Pure®, xoloPEGDA |
DCPI 5004 is produced on demand, so please allow extra lead time.
Order DCPI
Already know which DCPI you need? Request a quote, and we will send you pricing and expected delivery time.
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Not sure which DCPI works for your application? Contact us to book a call with one of our application engineers.
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