Pixel Dimming and Shrinkage

Theoretical Background & Physics of Shrinkage

Volumetric Shrinkage and Covalent Bonding

As liquid monomers polymerize into a cross-linked solid polymer network, they undergo volumetric shrinkage (typically $1\%$ to $5\%$ depending on the resin chemical formulation). This contraction occurs because van der Waals forces between free monomer molecules (spacing of $\sim 0.3\text{–}0.5\text{ nm}$) are replaced by shorter, highly localized covalent carbon-carbon ($\text{C}-\text{C}$) bonds (spacing of $\sim 0.15\text{ nm}$) in the polymer grid.