The real bottleneck of 3D printing technology is not the printer, but the raw materials

2024-03-05

Since the emergence of 3D printing, 3D printing materials have also become a hot field, and with the continuous updates of 3D printing technology, various 3D printing materials have sprung up like mushrooms after rain.

3D printing materials are the foundation of 3D printing technology, and the performance of materials largely determines the comprehensive performance of printed parts.

In the long run, materials are also a bottleneck that restricts the development of 3D printing technology. Therefore, upstream 3D printing material suppliers greatly limit downstream manufacturers who provide printing services.

Up to now, the types of 3D printing materials have become very complex. At present, according to incomplete statistics, there are over 200 types of 3D printing materials, which are widely used in many fields such as aerospace, medical, handicrafts, and manufacturing.

However, in practical applications, these materials are often limited to a very small range due to various requirements such as process and product application. Although there are over 200 types of printing materials, they are far from sufficient for the industry's demand.

Recently, the emergence of a batch of new materials undoubtedly added vitality to the entire market.

Faster and more cost-effective Somos QuickGen 500

The Somos QuickGen 500 was launched by the Royal DSM Group in the Netherlands, and is a groundbreaking universal engineering resin for rapid printing.

The printing speed of this material is twice that of similar materials, and it will mainly be used for digital light processing (DLP) and liquid crystal display (LCD) 3D printing.

Somos QuickGen 500 is a colorless resin with excellent flexibility, flexibility, and resilience. It has stronger flexibility than other resins and better stiffness than most elastomers. It is an ideal material choice for functional applications, semi flexible applications, and applications with detailed characteristics.

The following three materials are all introduced by ceramic 3D printing expert Tethon 3D:

Graphenite available for electronic products

Graphenite is a new type of graphene 3D printing material from Python, which has excellent mechanical and chemical properties.

Graphenite, as a graphene material, has a strength that exceeds most materials and also has good toughness. In addition, the sheet-like carbon allotrope gives it excellent thermal conductivity, conductivity, corrosion resistance, and optical properties.

Therefore, the target customers of this resin are manufacturers of energy storage devices, sensors, electronic products, and any other components that can utilize the high-performance properties of graphene.

Refractory material Cordierite

Cordierite is mainly composed of magnesium iron aluminum ring silicates, which are commonly found in cordierite. The color of cordierite is very similar to that of sapphire produced in Myanmar, and because it often contains water, it is also called water sapphire.

The characteristics of this material are similar to those of cordierite. Cordierite is an extremely lightweight material, characterized by small thermal expansion, excellent strength, hardness, and heat resistance (stable under rapid temperature changes). Materials made from cordierite can be used at high temperatures up to 1200 ° C.

Therefore, Cordierite may be applied in places that require refractory materials such as heaters, thermocouples, insulators, etc.

High temperature resistant material Mullite

Mullite is a new type of technological ceramic material launched by Tethon, mainly composed of mullite. Mullite has low thermal expansion, low thermal conductivity, and high refractory properties, as well as excellent chemical stability and electrical resistivity.

Mullite, composed of mullite, has important chemical properties such as excellent corrosion resistance at high temperatures, as well as high temperature load resistance and resistance to peeling. It is understood that this material can maintain its strength at high temperatures (up to 1800 ° C).

Therefore, Mullite is highly suitable for producing high-temperature chemical contact components in industries such as aerospace and energy, or for use in window materials that require harsh chemical conditions and high temperature mechanical application environments.

Complex material combinations

The four resin materials mentioned above are all single raw materials, but in reality, there are many types of products, and many products are composed of two or more materials, resulting in extremely complex combinations of production materials.

Many times, in order to meet the needs of products, a lot of raw materials may be needed, such as the anti-static material PA11 ESD developed by Sinterit, a Polish SLS 3D printer manufacturer.

This material has excellent thermal performance and stability, which can effectively guide charge dissipation and ensure the safety of electronic devices. Therefore, it is very suitable for application in the field of ESD electrostatic protection.

In most cases, electronic devices or components are prone to generating static electricity when in contact with other metal objects. As static electricity gradually accumulates, there is a risk of sparks. Therefore, this material is suitable for inclusion in situations where anti-static measures are needed but the main raw material does not have this characteristic.

In the field of 3D printing, 3D printing materials always play a crucial role. Whether it is a single raw material or a complex combination of materials, their ultimate goal is to meet all manufacturing needs.

Although 3D printing technology has not yet been popularized in various fields, with the development and progress of technology, the frequency of new materials will also increase. At that time, more and more new materials will be applied in various industries to meet our production needs.

With the further upgrading of 3D printing demand, 3D printing technology will be more widely applied in fields such as electronic products, aerospace, medical, industrial design, etc. New and more effective 3D printing materials will emerge one after another, and 3D printing materials will usher in a broader market.

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