Evonik
Evonik PA 6 powder
Evonik launches new polymer powder for 3D printing applications in higher temperature range.
Evonik Industries has announced a new high temperature polyamide 6 (PA 6) 3D printing powder.
The company has developed the material in line with the requirements of industrial partners, strengthening its portfolio of high-performance materials for powder-based 3D printing processes to better meet the needs of customers.
The new PA 6 powder is said to feature high mechanical strength and excellent chemical and temperature resistance. Its heat deflection temperature (HDT B) is around 195°C, while the powder also has low water absorption (below 3%) which enhances its processability in 3D printing, and thus the dimensional stability of components additively manufactured (AM) with the material.
“New, ready-to-use materials that are optimally adapted to the individual printer and expand the range of application to higher temperatures move the 3D printing industry one step further toward series production,” commented Mark Zhao, founder and CEO of TPM, a Chinese vendor of selective laser sintering systems. “We are seeing strong demand for 3D solutions in the higher temperature range – for example, in the automotive and electronics industries. That’s why we were pleased to launch the new temperature-stable material together with Evonik.”
Evonik has produced the material at its facilities in Marl, Germany and is suitable for all powder-based 3D printing technologies. The company has been operating in the 3D printing sector now for a few years, opening the Marl plant in 2017 initially to produce PA 12 materials. It also joined the HP Open Materials Platform that year and opened an R&D centre focusing on additive manufacturing in Singapore. Last year, it announced plans to open a new €400m PA 12 production plant in Marl, developed a 3D printing material based on polyether block amide (PEBA), and in January 2019 made public its acquisition of Structured Polymers. Evonik is now working to expand its offering to the AM market, adding PA 6 materials to its already available PEEK, PA 12 and PEBA powders.
