Xiaofan Luo
Polymaker, the Chinese 3D printing material developer, has announced the launch of two new extrusion-based materials through its Polymaker Industrial range in partnership with Covestro.
U1000 and U0174D, developed with application in general manufacturing, automotive, aerospace and medical in mind, supplement the more flexible materials introduced within the same product family earlier this year. The thermoplastic polyurethane materials are comparable in strength and toughness to engineering plastics, and can achieve durable parts, like tools, jigs, fixtures, and structural components.
Polymaker and Covestro, a leading company in the development of high-tech polymers, have sought to ensure the mechanical properties of the new products are suitable for use in relatively demanding applications. Both U1000 and U0174D have been tailored to deliver good mechanical strength, excellent layer adhesion, and good heat resistance, but do have some differences. U1000 is very stiff with a high modulus, similar to a glassy polymer such as polycarbonate or polystyrene, while U0174D is more ductile and has better fracture toughness, feeling more like a semi-crystalline plastic. They can both be printed under mild conditions on almost any thermoplastic-extrusion based 3D printer, according to Polymaker.
The new polyurethane materials have been brought to market as a result of a deepening partnership between Polymaker and Covestro which is now two-years-old. Both companies appear to be happy with how their collaboration is going, and both expect the new products to be well-received and well-applied in the coming months and years.
“Polyurethane is an incredibly versatile chemistry that can be used to create almost endless possibilities in materials,” said Yvonne Wang, Business Development Manager for Additive Manufacturing at Covestro. “We are very pleased to work with Polymaker, a rising star in the 3D printing industry. Their commitment to innovation and quality matches the values of Covestro, and we look forward to doing more exciting projects together in the future.”
“We are very excited about these two materials,” adds Dr Xiaofan Luo, President of Polymaker. “They will certainly enable lots of new applications and open opportunities in a variety of industries.”
