SABIC
SABIC
Surgical tray manufactured in SABIC 3D printing material.
SABIC, a global manufacturing materials supplier, has announced the launch of three new FDM 3D printing filaments.
The materials, ULTEM AM1010F, for general high-temperature applications, and ULTEM AMHU1010F and LEXAN AMHC620F for healthcare applications, were introduced at NPE 2018 in Orlando, Florida.
Having only entered the additive manufacturing industry in the spring of 2017, the three new products represent the third wave of 3D printing materials the chemicals specialist has brought to market. SABIC first made its mark at last year’s RAPID + TCT, announcing the LEXAN AM1110F, ULTEM 9085, and CYCOLAC AMMG94F product families, and at formnext powered by TCT later that year launched the LEXAN EXL AMHI240F filament and the THERMOCOMP large-format family of materials.
In Frankfurt, at the third formnext show, SABIC made clear its plans to target end-use production, as well as prototyping, and by clearly aligning these latest products with high temperature and healthcare applications, the company proved it has been actively working towards that target.
ULTEM AM1010F, the high-temperature resistant material, has been designed for use in the manufacture of carbon-fibre layup tools, short-cycle injection moulding tools and automotive components. It has a glass transition temperature of 217 °C, and is UL94 V-0 compliant (burning stops within 10 seconds on a vertical specimen at 1.5mm and 5VA compliant (burning stops within 60 seconds on a vertical specimen) at 3.0mm.
Meanwhile, SABIC has harnessed its experience supplying materials for the healthcare market, to deliver ULTEM AMHU1010F and LEXAN AMHC620F. Both products are included in the company’s Healthcare Product Policy, which provides pre-assessment of resin biocompatibility according to ISO 10993 or USP Class VI standards, and FDA Drug or Device Master File listing.
ULTEM AMHU1010F is a polyetherimide (PEI), manufactured from ULTEM HU1010 healthcare-grade resin, helping to ensure high heat resistance. The resulting filament is biocompatible, meeting ISO 10993 or USP Class VI standards, and parts printed with the material can be sterilised using gamma radiation, ethylene oxide or steam autoclaving. Like the high-temperature ULTEM AM1010F, the AMHU1010F healthcare-grade filament is UL94 V-0 compliant at 1.5mm and 5VA compliant at 3.0mm. The LEXAN AMHC620F polycarbonate filament meets UL94HB rating (slow burning on a horizontal specimen) at 1.5mm, is also biocompatible and can be sterilised with ethylene oxide methods. SABIC says the healthcare materials can be used for conceptual modelling, functional prototyping and end-use parts.
Introduced at NPE 2018, parts manufactured in the three new materials are being showcased on the SABIC stand, #S19001. The company hopes soon, these materials will be finding the hands of industry and healthcare professionals, being applied appropriately to positively impact the way they currently operate.
“Our commitment to provide customers with advanced, high-performance compounds and filaments for additive manufacturing remains strong,” commented Keith Cox, Senior Business Manager, Additive Manufacturing, SABIC, in a company press release. “Today’s launch of these additional filament products, together with plans to continue expanding our additive manufacturing product portfolio, demonstrates SABIC’s determination to further the evolution of this technology and enable application innovation.”
