Residual stress analysis-an important consideration for coating of stereolithography polymers

Residual stress is a very significant issue related to the mechanical, physical, and chemical performance of coatings. This communication reports our recent progress in the understanding of the effects of residual stresses on the coating of stereolithography polymers. X-ray diffraction and hole-drilling methods were used to analyze the residual stresses of metal coatings and SL5195 polymer, respectively. This analysis provides an insight into the engineering consideration when applying hard coatings on stereolithography polymers. A solution for successfully coating SL5195 polymer with favorable residual stress is also provided.