Floreon 3D PLA filament
Floreon 3D, a materials development company, has announced it is officially seeking collaborative partners to bring its patented 3D printing filament technology to market.
With patents secured globally for its range of polylactic acid (PLA) formulations, Floreon 3D now needs fellow additive manufacturing players to demonstrate their proficiencies. The company takes its name from its bioplastic PLA innovations, which have been developed through a desire to create a greener and safer form of plastic. With that goal achieved, Floreon is now looking to implement the filament throughout the 3D printing market.
“We’d like to make it clear that we are a technology company, not a manufacturer. We are bioplastics specialists with patented technology, which we’re looking to licence to producers,” said Shaun Chatterton, CEO. “We’re a small and innovative team looking to partner with like-minded organisations that can take the technology into the market. This could be a compounder who can use our additive technology in their own formulations for 3D filament, a manufacturer looking to work with us to develop new products or ever 3D printer OEMs or filament suppliers who can use the improved properties of Floreon’s enhanced PLA filament to give them an additional and exciting new product line.”
Floreon 3D PLA part
A part printed in Floreon 3D's PLA material.
The company’s flagship innovation is said to be four times tough, and more flexible, than standard PLA filaments. Floreon suggest it has improved impact resistance; improved printability; and the ability to be printed at high speed without compromising the quality of the part. It prints between 190 degrees C and 240 degrees C and, since it is made from plants and not oil, is recyclable and biodegradable.
Floreon’s patent covers ternary (three part) mixtures of PLA with other bioplastics, like polycaprolactone and polybutylene succinate. The company says it is this combination that ensures the impact toughness and tensile strength of the material.
Though not yet in wide commercial use, Floreon has had multiple companies take on its material for testing. One of them is Object Form, a 3D printing company and promoter of recyclable plastics.
“As a 3D printing specialist we use many plastic filaments in order to satisfy our clients’ requirements,” said Scott Knowles, Director & Co-Founder, Object Form Ltd. “Being a specialist means we have to use top quality materials we can rely on. Floreon 3D is one such material, an excellent plastic to be used within the 3D printing industry that we recommend.”
