3D PRINTING | MATERIALS


True identity Grafe has developed a masterbatch to identify – and authenticate – materials in industrial 3D printing. “This means that the authenticity of licensed


materials can be reliably determined for the filament processed by additive manufacturing,” said Lars Schulze, head of colour development and material sciences at Grafe. He sees the main areas of application as


prostheses in medical technology, system-relevant machinery or automotive parts that must withstand warranty or recourse claims. Other sectors such as furniture, electronics and consumer goods might also benefit. “In the future, more products and spare parts will


come from 3D printers,” he added. “If spare parts for licensed products are printed from inferior, untested material, warranty claims would be forfeited. In the worst case, property damage or personal injury would occur.” Grafe incorporates a marker into the filament, which can be used to check whether the correct material has been used. It is permanently in the component and cannot be removed. Due to its nature, the marker offers protection against counterfeiting and proof of originality, he said. It uses security pigments from Tailorlux, which also supplies the matching Tailor-Scan 4 handheld measuring device, onto which a reference file is loaded. It then indicates whether the correct marking is present. “The originality of the plastic used can be


checked directly from the filament to the compo- nent – even through glass or foil packaging,” said Schulze. Certification laboratories could also check the


material. The inspection electronics – other than the hand-held scanner – can be integrated directly into an existing 3D printing system. To date, the marker has mainly been used for


PLA and PETG (glycol), but can also be used in PA and PC. Due to a wide selection of markers, almost any plastic can be equipped, he says. “The batch dosages are comparatively low and


can be realised from 1%,” he said. Components coloured with carbon black require a slightly higher dosage – but each filament can be marked with a maximum dosage of 3%. Grafe is looking for industrial partners to develop appropriate products or printers.


Flame retardancy Evonik has developed a new photopolymer resin that is flame retardant and mechanically durable when cured.


www.injectionworld.com


Designed for use with DLP (digital light process- ing) 3D printers, Infinam FR 4100L is pourable at room temperature and can be printed and further processed to achieve a desired surface feel. “This is our latest product to address ongoing customer demand for a 3D-printable resin that can meet the unique requirements of aerospace, automotive, and electronics applications,” said Vitor Lavini, head of photopolymers at Evonik’s high performance polymers business line. “Funda- mental to these market segments are parts that can withstand contact with sparks, flames, and various types of fuels.”


Infinam FR 4100L has a certified UL 94 flame


retardancy rating of V-0 at 3mm thickness. Once cured, the product features high elongation at break, good haptics, and a good surface finish that can be further machined and polished. Its tough- ness is similar to that of ABS. Evonik believes the product will be suitable for 3D-printed functional production parts in aero- space, automotive and other industrial applications.


Printing filament Asahi Kasei highlighted several new technologies at NPE, including a number of 3D printing filaments. The first line of the new filaments is made from Xyron, its modified polyphenylene ether resin (m-PPE), known for its balance of heat resistance and impact strength. This replaces PC-ABS and poly- etherimide (PEI) alternatives in various applications. The second line is made from Thermylene polypro- pylene (PP) resin. It offers high strength and stiffness, does not require drying and has lower warpage than traditional unfilled PP alternatives, it says.


Recyclable resins Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK have developed a bio-based, recyclable resin for use in 3D printing applications


July/August 2024 | INJECTION WORLD 37


Left: Asahi Kasei intro- duced two 3D printing filaments at NPE, made from Xyron and Thermylene


IMAGE: ASAHI KASEI


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