3D PRINT COMPOUNDS | MATERIALS
The expanding use of 3D printing has led to development of reinforced materials. Chris Saunders looks at this and other emerging trends in 3D print compounds
Shaping new materials to applications
3D printing, or additive manufacturing (AM), has benefited a broad range of industries by enabling the rapid prototyping and small-volume produc- tion of complex geometries. Plastic compounds have become a cornerstone of this development, not just because of their versatility, affordability, and ease of processing, but because they offer such a vast array of properties which can be tweaked as necessary, making them suitable for numerous applications. Even though it is still considered a niche technology and will not replace mass production methods such as injection moulding or blow moulding anytime soon, 3D printing is growing at a steady pace. Polylactic acid (PLA) is a material commonly used, its ease of use making it ideal for hobbyists printing at home. The material is also widely used for prototyping in the automotive industry, as well as for home décor and furniture applications. With the right compounding tech- nique and mix of ingredients, PLA can be en- hanced to improve a final application’s heat resistance, impact resistance, durability, dimen-
www.compoundingworld.com
sional stability, and biodegradability, to name just a few areas. Seda Cantekin, Global Market Segment Leader
at PLA compound producer TotalEnergies Corbion, said: “We continuously work with value chain partners, end users, and machine manufac- turers, to follow the latest trends and respond to our partners’ needs. From our perspective, high- speed printing is the latest trend in 3D printing. If high-speed printing resins/filaments become the industry standard, they can add value to the industry such as faster lead times, less material consumption, and less CO2 emissions. We as a company build up strategic partnerships to follow these developments closely and provide solutions using our PLA resins. Applications containing recycled PLA are also becoming increasingly popular among printers.” US-based Insight Polymers & Compounding sees four themes in polymer development, some of which extend to 3D printing compounds. The first is the drive towards sustainability. 3D printing compounds are evolving on a similar track to
Main image: Polyamide tube produced using Wind- form selective laser sintering technology from CRP Technology
E : C R P T
May 2024 | COMPOUNDING WORLD 25
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