Effect of nickel coating on bending properties of stereolithography photo-polymer SL5195

The effect of nickel coating on the bending properties of Stereolithography (SL) parts was investigated. It was found that a thin layer of nickel coating significantly improves the flexural strength and modulus of the SL specimens. The strengthening effect of the coating is dependent on the ratio of the Young’s moduli of the coating and the substrate materials, as well as the thickness of the coating.