Technavio has published a new report on the global wood plastic composites market from 2017-2021. (Graphic: Business Wire)
24 Dec
Blog

Progress in Housing and Building Industries Will Drive the Wooden Plastic Composites Market, Says Technavio

LONDON–(BUSINESS WIRE) – According to the latest market study published by Technavio, the global wood-plastic composite (WPC) market is expected to reach USD 5,991.2 million by 2021 and grow at a CAGR of more than 11%.

This research report, titled Global WPC Market 2017-2021, provides an in-depth analysis of the market in terms of sales and trends in emerging markets. When calculating the market size, the report takes into account sales of WPC products in key applications such as construction, automotive, industrial, and consumer products.

The global WPC market is expected to grow rapidly due to the increased production of composite materials and increasing demand from regions like South America and countries like Russia, China and India. The entry of various suppliers of WPCs is driving consumption in these countries. In August 2015, the GS Group put a pilot WPC production facility into operation in Ulyanovsk, Russia, in which granulated WPC products are to be manufactured that are extruded and injection molded.

Request a sample report: http://www.technavio.com/request-a-sample?report=56938

Technavio’s sample reports are free and include multiple sections of the report including market size and forecast, drivers, challenges, trends, and more.

Technavio’s chemical and materials analysts categorize the global WPC market into four main segments by product type. You are:

  • Polyethylene

  • Polyvinyl chloride

  • Polypropylene

  • Other polymers

The three main product segments for the global WPC market are:

Global market for WPCs made of polyethylene

Polyethylene is one of the widely used thermoplastic polymers. HDPE, low density polyethylene (LDPE), linear LDPE (LLDPE), and ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UMWPE) are some of the different types of polyethylene available that are suitable for a particular application. In the global WPC market, polyethylene should hold its own well in the forecast period and continue to hold the leading share

Ajay Adikhari, a senior biochemicals and biomaterials analyst for Technavio, said, “The excess availability of recycled HDPE in the US is driving the use of polyethylene as the preferred matrix polymer. On the contrary, PP is the preferred matrix polymer in Europe. Due to the better UV stability of polyethylene, the trend is slowly changing in Europe too. ”

Global Polyvinyl Chloride WPC Market

PVC is a suitable alternative to traditional materials such as glass, copper, iron and wood in various applications because of its operational efficiency and benefits. The polymer has a high hardness and mechanical properties, which improve with increasing molecular weight and lower temperature.

“PVC is made from ethylene, which comes from the oil and gas industry. It can also be made using various hydrocarbons, including derivatives of plants, sugar cane, and coal. PVC matrix WPCs are often used to make windows and are now also used in the terrace segment, ”says Ajay.

Global market for polypropylene WPCs

PP is an unsaturated polyolefin. It is inherently semi-rigid and offers good resistance to chemicals, heat, and fatigue even at high temperatures. PP quality is selected depending on the required specification, processing method and associated costs. Homopolymers, copolymers (5% -15%, ethylene) and random copolymers are the commonly available grades.

Injection molding, blow molding, and general purpose extrusion are some of the widely used processing methods for PP. The development of prototypes on CNC machines and 3D printers with PP matrix is ​​increasing in Europe because these filaments are readily available.

The main vendors highlighted in this report by Technavio’s research analysts are:

  • Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies (AERT)

  • CPG International

  • Fiberon

  • Trex Company

  • Universal forest products

Browse related reports:

Become a member of Technavio Insights and access all three reports for a fraction of the original cost. As a Technavio Insights member, you have immediate access to new reports as soon as they are published. In addition to all of the 6,000+ existing reports covering segments such as Metals & Minerals, Olefins, and Specialty Chemicals. This subscription will save you thousands while staying connected to Technavio’s ever-changing research library. This enables you to make informed business decisions more efficiently.

About Technavio

Technavio is a leading global technology research and consulting company. The company develops over 2000 research papers each year, covering more than 500 technologies in 80 countries. Technavio has around 300 analysts around the world who specialize in tailor-made consulting and corporate research tasks using the latest cutting-edge technologies.

Technavio analysts use both primary and secondary research techniques to determine the size and vendor landscape in a number of markets. Analysts obtain information using a combination of bottom-up and top-down approaches, as well as internal market modeling tools and proprietary databases. You confirm this data with the data of various market participants and stakeholders along the value chain, including suppliers, service providers, dealers, resellers and end users.

If you are interested in further information, please contact our media team at media@technavio.com.

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Joseph Flynt
24 Dec
Blog

3D Printing Filament Black Friday Offers

Published on November 24, 2017

3D Insider is ad-supported and earns money with clicks and other opportunities.

Everyone knows that high quality 3D printing filaments will make or break your projects. Numerous brands have lowered their prices on a Black Friday sale. You can stock up on high quality PLA and ABS at a fraction of the cost. Some people buy enough for the next 6 months.

ColorFab

colorfabb-pla

ColorFabb is a company in the Netherlands that has built a reputation for extremely high quality PLA and hybrid blends. The company is offering a 25% discount on its filaments with the code “BLACKFRIDAY” at checkout.

ColorFabb offers fantastic blends including glow-in-the-dark filaments, wood filaments, copper filaments and much more. You can find the full catalog here.

Hatchbox

hatch

Hatchbox is our favorite filament company. The quality and consistency of their product is great.

Hatchbox has cut prices on some of their filaments. The prices of a handful of products are only a few dollars lower. See the full list of filaments here and look for the discounted ones.

Other filaments

3D Solutech sells its silver metal PLA filament for $ 16.27. The retail price is $ 21.99 so you can save almost $ 5.

Have you seen other filament offers? Leave a comment and we will add it to this page.

Warning; 3D printers should never be left unattended. They can pose a fire hazard.

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A lightweight steering wheel, 3D printed with onyx from Markforged. (Courtesy Markforged.)
24 Dec
Blog

Markforged Releases Carbon Fiber 3D Printing Filament > ENGINEERING.com

Markforged launches carbon fiber 3D printing filament
Michael Molitch-Hou published June 29, 2016 |

To add extra strength to carbon fiber reinforced parts, Markforged unveils the Onyx carbon fiber filament …

Markforged shook the world of 3D printing when the company first unveiled its technology two years ago that allows objects to be fed continuous strands of fiber reinforcement material into objects during 3D printing. Since then, Markforged has continued to improve its Continuous Filament Fabrication (CFF) process, expanding the materials used to reinforce 3D printed parts. The company’s latest development is a new filament called Onyx.

A lightweight steering wheel, 3D printed with onyx from Markforged. (Courtesy Markforged.)

CFF works by combining a base material with reinforced fibers to make strong, lightweight parts at a reduced cost. Continuous strands of carbon fiber, glass fiber, Kevlar or high temperature resistant glass fiber are fed through a nozzle onto the print bed, while a second nozzle deposits the base material. In the past this base material was a basic nylon filament. Now there is onyx, however.

Onyx is a composite filament made of nylon and chopped carbon fiber that enables the combined strength of both materials. While the carbon fiber makes Onyx 3.5 times stiffer than the company’s standard nylon, the nylon is said to make the material tough and wear-resistant. Onyx also has a heat dissipation temperature of 145 ° C.

Onyx has a smooth finish that doesn't require a lot of post-processing. (Courtesy Markforged.)

Onyx has a smooth finish that doesn’t require a lot of post-processing. (Courtesy Markforged.)

Markforged also claims that onyx improved dimensional stability so it doesn’t warp due to the decrease in thermal deformation and the increase in heat dissipation as the material is printed. According to the company, this allows for larger, steeper overhangs with no drips and sharper edges, as well as parts that are more similar to the CAD models.

The aesthetic properties of the material then contribute to an overall improved appearance compared to nylon parts as well as less post-processing, says Markforged. The translucent nature of the nylon made the internal reinforcement material more visible to the viewer, but onyx has a matte black appearance so it can be used for consumer facing parts.

A consumer-oriented product with 3D printed parts made from onyx. (Courtesy Markforged.)

A consumer-oriented product with 3D printed parts made from onyx. (Courtesy Markforged.)

By combining CFF with chopped carbon fiber filaments, the company can further increase the strength of its materials. However, parts 3D printed using the CFF process may not be as complex as 3D printed objects without continuous fiber reinforcement, which means there is some trade-off between part complexity and strength. Even so, CFF is the only desktop technology that allows users to create parts with real carbon fiber reinforcement. It may be perfect for replacing CNC milling.

Next, Markforged needs to work on getting its machine 100 times its size so that it can compete with EnvisionTEC’s new large fiber composite 3D printer. Until then, sample parts made of onyx can be purchased here or potential customers can see whether their local Markforged 3D hub has onyx in stock.

It should be noted that Onyx only works with the Enterprise version of the Mark Two 3D printer. If you don’t own this powerful machine, you should take a look at the carbon fiber reinforced nylon from 3DXTech.

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24 Dec
Blog

3ders.org – MatterHackers stress exams its hybrid NylonX 3D printer filament with spectacular outcomes

October 14, 2016 | From Andre

Materials science is just as important, if not more important than the machines themselves to the advancement of 3D printing. There have certainly been advances in affordable desktop 3D printing in recent years, but when it comes down to it, my Replicator 2 is out of the box In 2012, 3D printing of many materials was just as reliable and versatile as newer machines.

However, the materials available in the market continue to multiply at an incredibly impressive rate. In 2012, ABS and PLA were the de facto standards when it came to materials, and while nylon and wood fill options gradually crept in, it was nothing more than what we see today. From composite metals, polycarbonates, rubbers, carbon fibers, refractory materials, and more, there seems to be an affordable option that will meet all of your needs.

It now appears that the prestigious 3D printing group at MatterHackers spices up the material world a little more with their newly announced NylonX.

Its material properties, advertised as the strongest material yet, include “excellent chemical resistance, abrasion resistance and impact resistance combined with durability and toughness” and are the first choice for incredibly robust, functional 3D printed parts.

While nylon has always been seen as one of the stronger 3D printing materials on the market, it remained a niche player due to its difficulty to work with (easily peeled off the pad, shrinks when cooled, delaminates when set at too low a temperature setting is printed). . According to MatterHackers, the solution is to mix chopped carbon fiber (20% by weight) into the nylon blend.

“By adding chopped carbon fiber to nylon, we’re increasing stiffness, decreasing the rate of shrinkage, and reducing the amount of water it can hold, while maintaining the durability and toughness of nylon,” says the MatterHackers team. Some of the copywriting behind the filament even suggests that it is a potential replacement for aluminum (usually made with CNC machines) for many applications.

But just like everything else, the evidence is in the pudding, and MatterHackers has a ton of trouble demonstrating how its NylonX (available for $ 65 per 0.5kg) compares to the other materials on the market today.

It should be noted that some extruders and 3D printers may not be compatible when it comes to creating the right conditions for printing with NylonX (technical). Higher temperatures between 250 and 265 ° C are required to make parts without delamination. A heating bed setting between 60 and 70 ° C is recommended (together with PVA-based adhesive). A stainless steel nozzle is recommended (standard brass nozzles can wear out too quickly with the carbon fibers) and larger 0.6mm nozzles are recommended (compared to the typical standard 0.4mm nozzle).

However, when you have a 3D printer that takes the above factors into account, you are ready to produce parts with NylonX and the stress tests the MatterHackers team ran to compare what’s out there are instant and impressive propose the promise to be the strongest material there could be so far indeed come true.

Their tests consisted of 3D printed carabiners in a variety of materials roughly the size you’d find in stores weighing 150 pounds. They used the same 3D printer for most materials (even for conventional 0.4 mm nozzles) with the same layer height, density and fill pattern.

From there, a block and pulley system was used to test how much the 3D printed carabiners could withstand with the various material options. And as you can quickly see in the table below, NylonX ranks high compared to the other specialty materials available for testing.

Sure, it’s their own material, but their enthusiasm for their product should instill some confidence if you are looking to buy something new, durable and sturdy. They remark, “We suspected that NylonX would perform well on this type of test, but we didn’t expect it to work as well as it was. Simply put, it’s just fantastic ”and that“ in our test it was over 100% stronger than PLA and on average 60% stronger than ABS! “

And while the numbers suggest that NylonX could one day work its way into any manufacturer’s material closet, the team even admits that not enough tests were done on each filament to produce an accurate statistical record. In the end, however, the conclusion is pretty clear that after three months of 3D printing with the material, they remain impressed with the strength, ease of use, and the sleek, matte finish it creates straight from the machine.

As someone who regularly experiments with new 3D printing filaments, the comprehensive breakdown that MatterHackers has created in support of their product is impressive. They put their money where their mouth is to demonstrate the material. Currently available for purchase, I’m excited to read some third-party reviews of the filament to confirm what Matterhackers has already suggested.

NylonX

PLA


Posted in 3D Printing Materials

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Alfred Goodrich wrote on 03/12/2019 1:47:32 AM:

Hello, has anyone published the elastic modulus for NylonX?

Trebor Smith wrote on 2/12/2018 7:39:42 AM:

“I worry that a lot of companies don’t really understand materials science, they just jump on a conveyor belt. Chopped strand carbon adds next to nothing to the strength of the material. Carbon fiber works as a woven cloth, not as powdered strands,” I suppose they know, but they count on their customers not to know. However, it is possible that the small fibers will reduce the shrinkage significantly. And they seem to help some properties at the expense of much higher cost and nozzle wear.

Victor wrote on 04/14/2017 at 7:33:15 pm:

Hello … in which 3D printer can the NylonX filament be best used … Thank you

Taylor wrote on October 17th, 2016 at 6:22:22 pm:

Taulman 645, a nylon copolymer, was tested. We would have done more testing with nylon materials, but it’s too flexible for this test. Nylon is an excellent material because of its toughness (among other things), but these tests don’t highlight those strengths. We’re going to include nylon 910 in the carabiner test based on multiple requests, but it didn’t perform well because of its flexibility.

Rafael Vidal Peres wrote on October 15, 2016 12:55:14 pm:

What about testing layer adhesion with standard objects?

The cook wrote on October 15, 2016 11:49:15 am:

Quite meaningless figures with no comparison of nylon without carbon fiber. I worry that many companies don’t really understand materials science, they just jump on a conveyor belt. Chopped strand carbon contributes next to nothing to the strength of the material. Carbon fiber acts as a woven cloth, not as powdered threads. Carbon fiber is inherently slippery and so easily pulls out of the material with which it is not networked. Even wood fibers beat CF in these applications, because the fluffy fiber links the carrier material like fine roots hold the soil together.

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Equipment Spotlight: Boost for at-home filament extrusion
24 Dec
Blog

Tools Highlight: Increase for at-home filament extrusion

Researchers have developed an improved version of a desktop extruder that makes filaments for 3D printers, and they have made assembly instructions available online for free.

Students at Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, developed a version of what is known as the Recyclebot, a small plastic recycling system.

“We have developed a new version of the Recyclebot that has sufficient control to make commercial filaments from more or less everything. We have demonstrated this with pellets, regrind, and even waste composites like wood, ”wrote Joshua Pearce, professor at Michigan Tech on the plastics recycling update. “The plans are completely open source and most of the parts of the new machine design are 3D printable themselves.”

In an interview, Pearce said he saw opportunities for plastic recoverers in a number of areas. First, the equipment is an inexpensive way to test composites and polymer blends. Reclaimers can also use it to make 3D printer filaments, a relatively small market where the markups are still huge. With the wider use of the Recyclebot extruders, reclaimers have a new market in which to sell flakes.

“It’s still a small market … but it’s growing a lot,” he said. “This might be something some of them would be interested in and our device can help them get to market right away.”

Creating the Recyclebot

Full plans and assembly instructions have been published in Elseviers HardwareX. This document explains how to create a model called the RepRapable Recyclebot, so named because it is aimed at a 3D printing community that the paper says is focused on self-replicating open source rapid prototypes called RepRaps, concentrated.

According to the online article, a RepRapable Recyclebot can be made for less than $ 700 in materials and can be made in about 24 hours. The RepRapable Recyclebot produces filaments for 3D printers at a rate of around 1 pound per hour and 10 minutes. For every pound produced, 0.11 kilowatt hours of electricity are used.

The researchers estimate that filaments made from commercial pellets can account for about a fifth of the cost of commercial filaments. It can recycle waste plastic into filaments for about 1.1 cents per pound, compared to over $ 11 per pound for commercial filaments.

The system can process polymers with extrusion temperatures below 250 degrees Celsius. It is “able to manufacture custom filaments through a wide range of thermopolymers and composites for materials science studies of new materials and recyclability studies, as well as for researching novel applications of 3D printing based on molten filaments,” the paper states.

Particular progress

The paper acknowledges that this is not the first desktop-sized extrusion system that has been developed and the plans of which are made available to anyone. The plastic recycling update looked at other desktop extruder products, many of which were mentioned in the newspaper, and that publication wrote about one back in January 2013, the Filabot.

However, developers of the RepRapable Recyclebot say it is made up of parts that can be found at hardware stores or purchased online. In addition, many of the parts can be 3D printed so filaments from the device can be used to make another.

In addition, the paper points to other unique features, such as an adjustable hopper size and shape with emptying function, an aluminum cooling path for more cooling than with passive or compressed air processes, an adjustable crossbeam for different coil sizes and a modular structure for the addition of water bath cooling, pelletizers or injection molding system.

“These properties make it ideal as a research system for those studying novel filaments,” the paper says.

Pearce said he plans to have his students use the equipment next fall semester to make as many different polymer composites as possible.

For the latest news and analysis on plastics recycling technologies, subscribe now to our free monthly e-newsletter on the plastics recycling update: Technology Edition.

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Kai Parthys GROWLAY filament sown with grass. Photo via lay filaments.
24 Dec
Blog

Biodegradable GROWLAY 3D printer filament can be utilized to develop mushrooms or make cheese

Readers of the 3D printing industry can remember Kai Parthy from our previous interviews and reporting on the 3D printer filaments from the German inventor.

Now Kai Parthy is back with another new filament. After Parthy previously launched the world’s wood and ceramic-based filaments, to name a few, Parthy has now launched a biodegradable 3D printing material that he calls GROWLAY.

GROWLAY is intended for use with an FDM / FFF 3D printer. Once a design is made, the unusual properties of the material can be used. The GROWLAY filament can be used as a base for growing plants and other organic matter.

By adding water to your 3D print, spores, seeds, or even cheese molds can be stimulated to grab the print and cover it up. With GROWLAY you can recreate old ruins that lie in a miniature jungle or add an additional texture to a table RPG.

Kai Parthys GROWLAY filament sown with grass. Photo via lay filaments.

GROWLAY 3D printer filament

GROWLAY’s ability to act as a growth medium is based on its porosity and the microcapillaries that run through the material. This means that a 3D print made with GROWLAY can absorb water, absorb additional nutrients such as liquid fertilizer and allow a certain degree of root ingrowth so that a plant can attach itself to the print.

A scanning electron microscope image of the cheese mold on GROWLAY. Image via lay filaments.A scanning electron microscope image of the cheese mold on GROWLAY. Image via lay filaments.

Parthy’s interest in making filaments has grown well beyond his early kitchen experiments. However, he’s still curious about what drives him to create products like GROWLAY.

Previous experiments by Parthy have shown that GROWLAY can be used as a basis for a variety of organic substances. These range from lichen cultivation to cheese mold. According to Parthy, GROWLAY is also suitable for other biological crops such as grass, moss, fungus, powdery mildew, lichen, mycelium, pharmaceutical cultures and mother cells.

GROWLAY can be used for cheese mold. Gorgonzola (blue) and a white cheese on pink GROWLAY. Photo via lay filaments.GROWLAY can be used for cheese mold. Gorgonzola (blue) and a white cheese on pink GROWLAY. Photo via lay filaments.

GROWLAY is aimed at users who range from academic researchers to makers to creative chefs. It is recommended that either a liquid or gas method be used to sterilize the material. Thermal sterilization is not possible.

There are currently two versions of the filament available.

GROWLAY-white. This version is 100% biodegradable and can be added to compost for easy recycling. GROWLAY white is porous and has microcapillaries.

GROWLAY brown. This version is recommended when greater long-term stability is required. GROWLAY brown is not compostable. It is also porous and has the addition of wood particles, this gives it greater tensile strength and rigidity than the white version.

GROWLAY brown [L-R] Reprinted, with white mold and lichen. Photo via lay filaments.GROWLAY brown [L-R] Reprinted, with white mold and lichen. Photo via lay filaments.More information about GROWLAY is available here.

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The picture shown shows Kai Parthy’s grass-seeded GROWLAY filament. Photo via lay filaments.

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Thread winding
24 Dec
Blog

IFS expands line of filament wound FRP merchandise

Butt weld joint on large diameter pipe. Source | Industrial Fiberglass Specialties Inc.

Industrial Fiberglass Specialties Inc. (IFS, Dayton, Ohio, USA), custom manufacturer of glass fiber reinforced plastic products in a wide variety of sizes for structurally demanding applications and corrosive environmentshas announced that it will be expanding its range of filament-wound, corrosion-resistant products made from glass fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). The company is under new operational management and the introduction is part of the company’s multi-stage growth strategy.

IFS products meet stringent requirements and are therefore well suited for the chemical, oil and gas, power and mining markets. The company’s core line includes industrial piping, fittings and products that can be tailored to customer specifications.

“Our goal is to help customers transition into the future by using our skills to solve a wider range of problems, be it the vents for a drinking water tank farm, pipes and fittings for a power plant, or a mold for a specialized one Industrial product. Says IFS President Brian Mitsch.

Corrosion-resistant methacrylate-modified epoxy GRP pipes, ducts and fittings can be developed for a number of uses including chemical operating environment applications. Methacrylate modified epoxy products are said to cost about 35% less than epoxy tubing and offer high performance alternatives to expensive alloys and specialty metals for projects that have fire retardant and explosion proof requirements.

Filament wound methacrylate modified epoxy GRP pipe and duct products are available in sizes ranging from 3/8-inch. to 168-in. IFS builds its products according to the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM, West Conshohocken, PA, USA) for outer diameter of iron pipes (OD) and inner diameter of pipes for chemical processes (ID).

IFS is also committed to service and continuous technological development.

“We work closely with a customer to analyze their requirements and develop an economical product that offers a long service life.” Mitsch says. “Fiberglass products have been around since the 1940s, but new materials and design and manufacturing methods are constantly being developed. Our ability to take advantage of these improvements enables us to better solve our customers’ problems. “

With 40 years of manufacturing and engineering experience, IFS combines specialized resin knowledge, innovative design and materials. Manufacturing technology and restoration services to support a diverse range of products including filament-wound GRP industrial pipes, engineered GRP pipe fittings, custom piping systems and chemical tanks.

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German RepRap rolls out a filament-style 3D printer
24 Dec
Blog

German RepRap rolls out a filament-style 3D printer

3D printer

The TiQ 5 is a filament printer and the successor to the German RepRap x500 pro. And according to the manufacturer, the two printers look similar on the outside, but completely different on the inside.

The main differentiator is the industrial control of the TiQ 5. It supposedly enables faster printing speeds, higher precision, and higher reproducibility than the previous generation device. Due to these properties, the machine is suitable for series production in small numbers, according to the company.

The machine’s large, heated installation space makes it easy to print engineering thermoplastics, including ABS, Sabic Lexan PC, PP, PA6,6 CF / GF, TPC and TPE. The printer also has water-cooled electrical components. a dual-lift extruder that can print two components at the same time; and intelligent functions such as material flow monitoring and automatic calibration of the nozzle and print bed.

In related news, the company added drying cabinets to its product line. The MiQ 5 dryer stores filaments that are fed to the printer at the optimal temperature and humidity.

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Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) made by melting ABS, PLA, nylon and PET. Image via the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
24 Dec
Blog

Are 3D printers secure? Filtering out the myths behind filament emissions

A study funded by SajTom Light Future Ltd., a privately held company headquartered in Poland, examined the emissions caused by the popular 3D printer filaments ABS, PLA, PET and nylon.

The research backs up extensive research showing that melting materials like ABS, PLA, PET, and nylon with adequate ventilation and a dose of common sense does no harm to 3D printer users.

But what exactly is produced by the process when plastic melts in these machines?

Time-lapse 3D printing of a 3D benchy boat. Clip about Zach Morris on YouTube

Cut out the rumors

Plastics made from fossil fuel extracts run the risk of producing harmful gases when they are melted at temperatures between 460 and 600 ° C. The maximum extrusion temperature in a typical desktop 3D printer is between 240 and 250 ° C.

At the beginning of the study, the researchers note that the operating temperature of a 3D printer is significantly lower than the pyrolysis temperature at which CO [carbon monoxide] and HCN [hydrogen cyanide] are shaped. “

All samples examined in the SajTom Light Future study are heated to 240 to 250 ° C for this purpose, and the vapors emitted from the plastics are recorded over a period of 10 minutes.

3D printers are “not a threat”

The main volatile organic compounds (VOC) of each 3D printer filament are listed in the table below.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) made by melting ABS, PLA, nylon and PET. Image via the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

In a 3D printer with print bed dimensions of 400 × 390 × 520 mm and an air volume of around 50%, the total concentration of organic pollutants generated by ABS within one hour reaches around 280 ppm.

The resulting conclusion is that “the concentration of the organic vapors formed is not dangerously high” and therefore “does not pose a threat to the user”.

As expected, the compounds made by PLA when melted are 32% lower than the amounts made by ABS.

In addition, the acute toxicity of methyl methacrylate (MMA), the best-known VOC in PLA, is classified as “low” in an official assessment by the World Health Organization.

Leave the windows open and the filters running

SajTom Light Future was supported in this study of filament emissions by the 3D printer manufacturer 3DKreator and the University of Milan, where the Deputy Director of SajTom Light Future, Dr. Tomasz Baran, who is a postdoctoral fellow.

A Creator Motion 3D printer as used in the SajTom Light Future study. Image via 3DKreatorA Creator Motion 3D printer as used in the SajTom Light Future study. Image via 3DKreator

The authors recommend that filters are an important component of 3D printers, which fortunately is commonplace for most desktop computers currently available.

The company is committed to bringing light absorbing photocatalytic products to market and is also committed to filters made from proprietary materials.

In contrast to typical systems, photocatalytic filters can neutralize harmful gases in the air. Such devices have been used in desktop 3D printers since 2016 and may have more diverse uses in future machines.

The next step

While by no means an exhaustive study, the authors suggest that further research can be explored by changing the variables of the experiment, i.e. filament thickness, machine setting, and space volume.

The development of greener 3D printer materials is also a focus of many projects around the world, including a European Union-funded initiative for the automotive and aerospace industries.

A full article from the study covered in this article is available online in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene. It is written jointly by Szymon Wojtyła, Piotr Klama and Tomasz Baran.

To stay up to date with the latest research on 3D printer materials, subscribe to our newsletter, the most widely read mailing list in the industry. Follow the 3D printing industry on Twitter and like us on Facebook.

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Selected picture shows: Samples of PLA 3D printer filaments. Photo by Beau Jackson for the 3D printing industry

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