2021 Technology Roundup: Materials

AM materials development began when the first additive manufacturing machines were commercialized. 2021 was no exception. The AM/3DP community saw new filaments, powders and resins to address the performance needs of expanding applications. Some of the new material solutions available were:

• Carbon Fiber ABS: Stratasys introduced a new ABS-based carbon fiber material for the F123 Series™ 3D printers, the first composite material for the platform. FDM ABS-CF10 features 10% chopped carbon fiber, making it 15% stronger and 50% stiffer than standard ABS. MORE

• Six New Formlabs Materials: Formlabs announced six new materials across the Form 3, Form 3B, and Form 2 SLA 3D printers: Flexible 80A Resin, a reformulation of Flexible Resin (V2); Elastic 50A Resin; BioMed Clear Resin; BioMed Amber Resin; Custom Tray Resin, available in four VITA shades, Temporary CB Resin; and a Dental LT Clear Resin. MORE

• Copper for Binder Jetting: Digital Metal® introduced pure copper, DM Cu, for metal binder jetting system. The thermal and electrical conductivity properties of pure copper make it ideal for a wide range of applications. MORE

• PA 0600 Additive Filament: Jabil announced availability of a patent pending Jabil PA 0600, a polymer with acetal formulation attributes and without potentially dangerous formaldehyde emissions associated with overheating. MORE

• Ingeo 3D700: NatureWorks introduced Inego 3D700, a biopolymer filament for use in large-format 3D printing. By controlling the polymer-microstructure, the PLA grade, Ingeo 3D700, has a low material shrink rate. MORE

• DEMI 910 Resin Removal Solution: PostProcess Technologies announced DEMI 910™, a full-stack resin removal solution specifically for the Carbon ecosystem. The DEMI 910 leverages proven software, hardware, and chemistry in its patented Submersed Vortex Cavitation (SVC) technology to improve efficiencies for Carbon L1 and M2 3D printers. MORE

• 3D Systems Introduced Four Figure 4 Resins: 3D Systems announced the addition of four resins to its Figure 4® portfolio designed for batch-run, end-use part manufacturing, and prototyping applications. The company has added Figure 4 High Temp 150C FR Black, Figure 4 Tough 65C Black, Figure 4 Tough 60C White, and Figure 4 Rigid Gray. MORE

• Stereolithogrpahy Composite Material: 3D Systems  announced the availability of Accura® Composite PIV (Particle  Image  Velocimetry) – a material designed to address PIV wind tunnel testing applications. Developed in collaboration with Alpine F1 Team (formerly Renault F1 Team), Accura Composite PIV can be used for stereolithography processes. MORE 

• Titanium Powder: Aerospace Hiwing Titanium Industrial announced development of TA32 material (titanium powder) and its processing parameters on Farsoon’s FS271M system. TA32 Titanium alloy is a composition of Ti-5.5Al-3.5Sn-3Zr-1Mo-0.5Nb-0.7Ta-0.3Si. MORE 

• : Windform® RS: CRP Technology announced the proprietary material Windform® RS, polyamide-based carbon fiber filled composite for additive manufacturing. Windform® RS is a composite material tensile strength of 85.25 MPa, elongation at break of 9.46%, and low density  of 1,10 g / cc. MORE

• xFLEX 475 Photo-elastic Material: Nexa3D in partnership with Henkel, launched xFLEX 475 photo-elastic material a soft rubber material, for additive manufacturing. The material has 150 per cent elongation at failure and an energy return of up to 50 per cent. MORE

• Media Mix for Post Processing: AM Solutions introduced a media mix for post processing of polymers produced with powder bed or multi-jet fusion. The media permits finishing of 3D printed components with different shapes and sizes in one single process step to achieve finely structured and homogeneous surface finish. MORE

• Stainless Steel Filaments: BCN3D announced the Metal Pack containing Ultrafuse® Metal Filaments from Forward AM for its line of Epsilon Series 3D printers. Filaments Ultrafuse® 316L and 17-4 PH contain high levels of stainless steel with polymer binders. After a debinding process, sintering, and post sintering processes, final materials are achieved. MORE

• PEEK Filament: Weerg launched a PEEK filament for fused deposition modeling. The organic thermoplastic polymer is an organic thermoplastic that has high mechanical strength and low density that can be used to replace non-ferrous metal alloys in some applications. MORE

• Refractory Metal Powders: 6K Additive and Freemelt announced a partnership to develop and commercialize refractory metal powders for their Electron Beam Powder Bed Fusion (E-PBF) printer platform. Refractory metals such as tungsten are needed for extreme temperatures and speed forces. MORE