Essentium, a 3D printing material supplier, has launched three new high-performance composite filaments specifically for applications in aerospace, defense, electronics and other fields.
The first is TPU 58D-AS, which has antistatic properties, is electrostatic discharge (ESD) safe, and offers a series of colors that traditional ESD safe materials cannot achieve. The other two filaments, PET-CF and 9085, are characterized by excellent heat resistance and chemical resistance, making them a strong competitor for high temperature and chemical contact 3D printed parts.
Brandon Sweeney, the co-founder of Essentium, said: "By providing an open additive ecosystem and a range of high-performance materials, industry participants now have a unique opportunity to quickly produce on-demand suitable for harsh and extreme environments. Parts, save costs, reduce waste, and simplify the supply chain. From now on, the best companies will succeed in the digital age through 3D printing."
Essentium TPU 58D-AS
Anti-static materials are often only available in black, because carbon additives are needed to make them anti-static, but Essentium’s new TPU-based filament breaks this pattern. It was developed in cooperation with chemical specialist Croda. Croda provides Ionphase permanent antistatic Electrostatic additives can make the polymer matrix have a variety of colors.
The composite material has high impact strength, tear strength and wear resistance, and is suitable for clean rooms and electronic parts. Essentium said that the material will be an ideal material for aerospace vehicles and satellite components, especially for no-fly components that must have both ESD safety performance and bright red visibility.
Essentium PET-CF and 9085
As the name suggests, PET-CF is a carbon fiber (15%) reinforced polyester composite material based on Luvocom 3F resin produced by the chemical company LEHVOSS Group. It is described as "high-performance but affordable" and has the stiffness, strength, printability and chemical resistance required for exposure to many common solvents. When annealed, it can withstand temperatures higher than 155˚C.
On the other hand, Essentium 9085 is based on ULTEM 9085 resin from the chemical manufacturing company Saudi Basic Industries. Like PET-CF, it has the heat resistance, mechanical strength and durability required for high-impact components in harsh environments. In addition, the material also has the characteristics of flame resistance, no smoke, and non-toxic.
Brandon Sweeney added when referring to the "open materials ecosystem" of Essentium's collaboration: "Together with our partners, we have the science, compounds, and innovation to drive a step change in polymer progress, enabling manufacturers to use additive materials. For applications never imagined before."
Infinite Material Solutions, a 3D printing material supplier, also recently launched a new proprietary filament. AquaSys 180 is a soluble support yarn designed to be co-extruded with high-temperature polymers. It has excellent temperature stability and can withstand atmospheric temperatures up to 180°C. Therefore, it is suitable for the printing conditions required for extruding high-performance thermoplastics such as PEEK, PEKK and PEI.
In other respects, material supplier Reflow also recently launched a new environmentally friendly series "Seaglass" translucent yarn for FFF process. The company's sustainable development series consists of six rPETG materials, made of local plastics, and is visually inspired by the environment. Through the new series, Reflow aims to do its part to limit the harmful effects of global plastic pollution.