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Materialise
Materialise TPU 92A-1
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Materialise launch new rubbery plastic 3d printable material
The list of materials used for 3D printers is growing bigger every day, today Belgian 3D printing service Materialise have announced their latest printable material, TPU 92A-1, a highly flexible and durable rubber like substance.
TPU or thermoplastic polyurethane is quite commonplace, you’ll most likely have seen or used it as one of those rubbery mobile phone cases or the grips of a power tool. It is a sort of hybrid between a hard plastic and soft silicone material taking the flexibility or the latter and durability of the former.
Materialise’s version, TPU 92A-1, is now available for order. The material was developed due to a high demand from engineers and designers alike for a material that was completely flexible but able to withstand the wear and tear of an end use product. The first outing for the material was on the catwalks of Paris Fashion Week.
3D printing and fashion go hand in hand at the moment, we saw the world’s first fully 3D printed dress modelled by Dita Von Teese, 3D printed bracelets calibrated by your favourite song. You only have to take a look at the fashion and jewellery sections one of the many online 3D printing services to see just how popular 3D printed fashion is.
This new material was given its first outing by Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen. Herpen has previously collaborated with MIT Media Lab’s Neri Oxman on 3D printed runway creations printed by Stratasys and for a while now has been the forerunner in the 3D printed fashion industry. She used the TPU 92A-1 for her Voltage Collection which received widespread acclaim at Paris Fashion Week.
Materialise say their latest material has the following properties:
- Durable elasticity
- High tear resistance
- High resistance to dynamic loading
- High abrasive resistance
- Snappy response
- Good temperature range (-20°C to 80°C)
And if those bullet points aren’t proof enough then watch this video which includes the ability of the material to survive a hit and run.
