FEP release film is an affordable choice for small-format printing with low release requirements

3D printing technology, as a special material manufacturing technology, has the advantages of personalized customization, complex structure manufacturing and efficient production. Among them, photocuring 3D printing technology has shown great potential in many fields with its high precision and rapid prototyping capabilities. However, printing speed and separation efficiency have always been the key factors restricting the large-scale application of photocuring 3D printing technology. Today we will analyze the characteristics and adaptation selection of the basic version, FEP release film.

As a photocuring interface material, FEP release film is the most basic type of 3D printing release film. Based on its low surface energy and chemical stability, it can effectively reduce the adhesion between the resin and the printing platform, thereby achieving rapid and non-destructive separation. In the 3D photocuring printing process, the FEP film is installed at the bottom of the photosensitive liquid resin tank, one side facing the light source and the other side facing the photosensitive liquid resin. When the light source irradiates the resin, the resin solidifies and separates from the FEP film to form the required three-dimensional structure.

FEP has a high release effect because its low surface energy characteristics make the adhesion between the resin and the film small and easy to separate.

Similarly, FEP film has good corrosion resistance to a variety of chemical solvents like other release films and is suitable for a variety of photosensitive resins. It can effectively reduce problems such as resin overflow and part breakage, and improve printing quality.

FEP release film has excellent high and low temperature resistance and can remain stable in a wide temperature range of -200℃ to 260℃. This feature enables it to perform 3D printing under various extreme temperature conditions and meet the special requirements of printing temperature in different fields.

Moreover, FEP release film has extremely high transparency, and its UV transmittance can reach more than 95%, which means that during the 3D light-curing printing process, light can penetrate the film layer almost without loss and irradiate the photosensitive resin below, ensuring the smooth progress of the printing process.

Due to its high transmittance, FEP release film can maintain uniform distribution and precise focusing of light, which helps to form clear and accurate images or structures during the printing process, improve printing accuracy and finished product quality.

FEP release film has one of the lowest refractive indexes among plastic materials, which gives it a unique advantage in optical applications. The low refractive index means that the refraction of light when passing through the film layer is relatively slight, which helps to reduce image distortion or distortion caused by refraction.

The optical properties of FEP release film are stable and not easily affected by environmental factors such as temperature and humidity. This allows it to maintain good optical properties in various complex environments, ensuring the stability and reliability of the printing process.

Although FEP release film performs well in 3D printing, there are still separation speed limitations under certain conditions. For example, during the printing process, the adhesion between the printed part and the projection window is large, and the separation speed needs to be reduced to avoid problems such as part breakage and sticking to the bottom, thereby limiting the increase in the printing speed of FEP release film. Therefore, in high-speed printing processes and machines with high-speed printing performance, the use of FEP release film has great limitations.

In addition, in the printing of large-size structural models, when FEP release film prints large-size continuous structural parts, its release force is large, and it is difficult to ensure the printing quality. Therefore, FEP release film is only suitable for small and micro printers with a format of 6 to 7 inches on the market, and some basic printing enthusiasts who have low requirements for release and do not need too much investment.