3D PRINTING | MATERIALS


Black grades Germany-based Grafe has added three new standard black masterbatches for 3D printing. The Schwarz portfolio now includes three masterbatches with the carrier materials PETG and PLA. As well as the classic PLA variant, a new option meets FDA approval for food contact. “We want to give our customers the option of selecting a substrate that matches the print material,” said Lars Schulze, head of colour devel- opment and material sciences at Grafe. “This eliminates compromises in terms of layer adhesion, warping or flow properties.” PLA is a bio-based plastic characterised by mechanical properties like high surface hardness, rigidity and high tensile strength. PETG combines stability with flexibility and is resistant to mechanical stress and moisture. It also has high impact strength, is temperature- and weather-resistant and has low shrinkage. These properties make it ideal for robust components, technical applications and functional parts that require high durability, says Grafe. Further colour variants and optimised formula- tions will follow this year.


Smooth operator Sculpteo says that its PA12 S polyamide material, for 3D printing in industrial applications, offers a smoother surface finish than competing products. HP Multi Jet Fusion technology gives it a finer,


more uniform surface than other polyamides, says the company. This makes it suitable for demanding sectors such as aeronautics, automotive and electronics. “This new material, with its mechanical and aesthetic properties, is a genuine alternative to injection-moulded plastic parts for short to medium production runs,” said Alessandro D’Orsetti, CEO of Sculpteo. He adds that PA12 S generates a lot less waste powder than alternative polyamides.


Features include: thermal resistance up to 120°C; good chemical resistance (to solvents, oils, fuels and coolants); very low humidity absorption; and compatibility with standard finishes and uses. Already used for prototypes, PA12 S material now makes it possible to make production parts thanks to its rapid turnaround times, says the company. Sculpteo has also teamed up with My Human Kit


to create customised 3D-printed prosthetics. The Bionicohand is an open-source bionic hand


that can be reproduced and adapted anywhere in the world. It was developed by Nicolas Huchet, co-founder of My Human Kit. “The collaboration with Sculpteo gives us access


to certified, high-performance industrial-grade 3D printing materials, enabling us to create more functional and mechanical prototypes,” said Huchet.


My Human Kit aims to create the first open-


source library of 3D hands through its ‘Hand Donation’ project, allowing users to choose models tailored to their body shape and identity.


Flying high Xenia Materials, which develops carbon fibre- reinforced polymers, has supplied a 3D printing


Autonomous robot 3D-printed from TPU


Researchers from the University of California San Diego and BASF have used 3D printing to make an autono- mous walking robot from a thermo- plastic polyurethane (TPU). Automated fabrication of robots


could revolutionise various industries including manufacturing, construction and space exploration, say the researchers. However, the ability to


www.injectionworld.com


print entire, complex robots with multiple materials is limited. Earlier approaches have used fluidic control circuits, but these rely on labour-inten- sive methods like silicone moulding and manual assembly. This project constructs a monolithic 3D-printable four-phase bistable oscillating valve, that can coordinate multiple limbs from a steady source of


pressurised air. This creates an electronics-free robot that can walk on rough terrain. It is operational as soon as it is connected to an air supply. “This marks a significant step


toward accessible, customisable, and biodegradable autonomous soft robots that can be produced using desktop 3D printers with no human intervention,” said the researchers.


July/August 2025 | INJECTION WORLD 33


Above: Grafe has added three new standard black masterbatches for 3D printing


IMAGE: GRAFE


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40