EOS introduces recyclable and high ductility 3D print materials
15 January 2013
Ecological compatibility, high technical performance and low manufacturing costs are the main attributes of two new powder materials introduced by EOS for layer-by-layer 3D printing of plastic components in its additive manufacturing machines.
A sample component 3D printed in an EOS machine using PA 1101 powder
PrimePart Plus (PA 2221) represents a breakthrough in polymer development, as significantly more of the material can be recycled after it has previously been in the build chamber of an EOS machine. Such material has undergone elevated temperatures but has not been laser-sintered, ie it occupied the spaces around and within the final components.
Conventional plastic materials are usually refreshed for the next build cycle with fifty per cent or more new powder, whereas for PA 2221 the figure is 30 per cent. The result is a considerable saving in the amount of powder that has to be scrapped. The technical performance of the finished plastic parts is not diminished and the overall key performance indicators achieved are only slightly lower than those of the established EOS powder, polyamide 12-based PA 2200.
The second plastic material, PA 1101, is a natural-coloured polyamide 11 characterised by high elongation at break and good impact resistance combined with a balanced performance profile. Less non-renewable resources are used in the production of this material compared with polyamide 12.
The material is particularly suitable for applications where the finished product contains functional elements that require high material ductility, such as integral hinges, as well as for parts that need high impact resistance. Another typical application for this material is in the series production of components used in passenger cars, for example, where it is important that the parts do not chip.
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