Covestro unveils four new materials spanning multiple 3D printing technologies

Materials manufacturer Covestro unveils four new materials spanning different 3D printing technologies at Formnext 2021, including soluble support materials for fused deposition modeling and fused filament fabrication (FDM/FFF), options for high energy feedback flexible materials for laser sintering (SLS), and two high-flow thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powders for SLS and high-speed sintering (HSS)
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Addigy® FPC SOL1 HT provides soluble support material for FDM printing of high temperature materials such as polyetheretherketone (PEEK) and other high-temperature materials in suspension and cavities, and the filling rate of the support structure is as high as 100%
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The filament can be easily printed without pre-drying
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After printing, the translucent material can be easily and quickly removed by dissolving in standard chemical solvents, resulting in a smooth surface
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After a simple distillation process, both the solvent and support material can be reused, making it a more sustainable solution
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Soft, elastic materials are generally not easy to 3D print
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With the Arnitel®1 AM3001 (P) for SLS, Covestro material scientists have successfully combined the two
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With a Shore hardness of A88 and D35 and excellent elongation at break, this thermoplastic copolymer exhibits very high energy feedback
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It is easy to process and has no common side effects such as odor
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This material complies with Directive 2009/48/EC on the safety of toys and is awaiting biocompatibility approval
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The material will be available for customer evaluation and development in early 2022
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Covestro has announced the SLS and HSS versions of its thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) powder Addigy® PPU 86AW6
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These materials exhibit excellent resilience, ease of post-processing, and high recycling rates of unsintered powders
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Their ease of handling during printing makes them suitable for a wide range of applications
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The four new materials complement Covestro’s recently launched Somos® resins for SLA and DLP, as well as the company’s 2020 relaunch of low-smoke glass-filled PA6-66 flame-retardant filaments
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Since acquiring the additive manufacturing business from DSM earlier this year, Covestro now offers a wide selection of polymer materials for 3D printing
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Hugo da Silva, Head of Additive Manufacturing at Covestro, said: “If we want manufacturers to use additive manufacturing more and more in industrial production, they need access to more functional materials whose properties, regulations, Both safety and quality are matched to their application
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This requires solid materials expertise to design materials that not only perform the desired performance as they leave the printer, but also over time in different functional and environmental conditions It also exhibits the desired performance
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”