Shanghai, April 24, 2018 — Solvay has introduced three special polymer filaments that are expected to bring disruptive properties to 3D printed parts, taking additive manufacturing to a new level.
Solvay plans to expand its specialty polymer filament and powder product portfolio designed for high-end additive manufacturing applications. These three filaments are among the first products. They are made from Solvay's KetaSpire® PEEK (polyetheretherketone) and Radel® PPSU (polyphenylenesulfone) high-performance polymers.
Of these three filament products, two are based on Solvay's high-performance KetaSpire® PEEK polymer: one is a pure PEEK product and the other is a 10% carbon fiber reinforced PEEK product. The two PEEK filaments are designed to achieve perfect fusion between the printed layers and give 3D printed parts high density and strength-including increasing density and strength in the z-axis direction.
A new type of filament is made from Solvay Radel® PPSU. This high-performance PPSU material is also specially developed to achieve perfect fusion between printed layers. It can give 3D printed parts more transparency, excellent elongation at break and excellent robustness.
In the future, Solvay will continue to develop new powder products for additive manufacturing based on NovaSpire® PEKK (polyetherketone ketone) polymers for 3D printing applications in the aerospace and medical fields.
"Solvay's latest introduction of filaments for additive manufacturing marks an important fusion between additive manufacturing and specialty polymer technologies, which is a necessary condition for high-end 3D printing." Christophe Schramm, Business Unit Additive Manufacturing Manager, said, "Solvay is committed to becoming the world's leading supplier of advanced additive manufacturing polymer solutions for 3D printing technology. The launch of these three new products is a reality for Solvay. This strategic goal lays a solid foundation. In addition, we work with leading innovative companies in printing, process and design to jointly develop new material solutions based on Solvay's specialty polymer portfolio. "
At the same time, Solvay also launched a new e-commerce platform, www.solvaamshop.com, to further implement the company's forward-looking strategy for the additive manufacturing industry. The platform is designed to provide a better experience for more and more users of additive manufacturing, so that they can directly and timely access Solvay's advanced additive manufacturing material solutions and transparent quotation information. The portal will also provide a range of simulation, testing and prototyping services that will leverage Solvay's growing partner network and an open ecosystem approach.