3D printers
High quality 3D printers
Evonik Industries AG is one of the largest specialty chemicals companies in the world and has also been producing materials for additive manufacturing for some time. In 2022, several INFINAM® photopolymers and a PEEK filament from Evonik came onto the market, for which you can find the corresponding blog post here, and have taken it by storm.
But Evonik started producing polymer powders for additive manufacturing long before that. As an OEM, i.e. original equipment manufacturer, Evonik has been the undisputed top dog in the field of PA12 powders for some of the largest manufacturers of powder-based additive manufacturing systems for decades.
The INFINAM® powder range was expanded at Formnext last November. Since then, these can be purchased through selected distributors, including us as preferred resellers in the EU, Switzerland, Norway and the UK, and have already left a clear mark on the market.
The aim of this blog post is to introduce the individual polymer powders in the INFINAM® range, to present their characteristics and benefits briefly and concisely and to highlight the ideal applications for each powder. That's enough of this preface and into the diverse world of INFINAM® powders!
INFINAM® PA 6004 P
The PA 6004 P from the INFINAM® powder range, a fine, white powder made from polyamide 12, was developed specifically for applications that require flame-retardant components. PA 6004 P has been classified as V0@2mm according to the globally recognized UL 94 standard, which ensures that the material extinguishes flames within a maximum of 10 seconds. An afterglow time of maximum 30 seconds is also guaranteed by this classification.
In addition to its flame retardancy, PA 6004 P provides exceptional resistance to the vast majority of chemicals and rounds off its ideal suitability for use at high temperatures with a melting temperature of 185 °C.
Thanks to its resistance to heat and chemicals, INFINAM® PA 6004 P is particularly suitable for applications with precarious conditions. The automotive and aviation industries in particular benefit greatly from these properties.
INFINAM® PA 6005 P
The main characteristic of INFINAM® PA 6005 P, a white powder based on polyamide 613, is its impressive heat resistance at temperatures of up to 215 °C. In addition, PA 6005 P boasts very high rigidity and impact strength. In addition, PA 6005 P boasts very high rigidity and impact strength, resulting in above-average corrosion resistance.
Evonik has also tested all these properties for a long service life in particular. As a result, users can be sure that their components made of PA 6005 P will not just perform once, but over the long term.
This long-lasting high performance can be used across all industries. The automotive industry in particular benefits significantly from these properties, but the oil and gas industry can also use the properties of PA 6005 PA, which include very low water absorption, to replace metal components.
INFINAM® PA 6006 P
With INFINAM® PA 6006 P, Evonik has enhanced the outstanding properties of polyamide 12 with a glass bead filling. This glass bead filling maximizes stiffness as well as surface resolution and abrasion resistance and also almost completely eliminates shrinkage of the component.
In addition to these properties, INFINAM® PA 6006 P offers outstanding detail fineness which, in symbiosis with the deep black color, provides an ideal basis for high-quality visual models. Furthermore, the material offers increased flowability, which increases the printing speed and process stability in the production of 3D-printed components.
The glass bead-filled PA 6006 P was designed for maximum resilience and also delivers an outstanding appearance. As a result, it can be used for end-use components, e.g. in the aerospace industry, as well as for functional prototypes and illustrative models.
INFINAM® TPA 4006 P
Flexibility is the mantra for INFINAM® TPA 4006 P. For components with rubber-like properties that also require fantastic impact strength and rebound properties, Evonik has created a solution with this high-performance polymer.
In addition, INFINAM® TPA 4006 P offers outstanding resistance to most chemicals and a high-resolution surface. The whole thing is rounded off with a very high level of detail fineness, which means that even the smallest details can be produced in the highest quality.
The basic rule with the TPA 4006 P is: if an application needs flexibility, the material can deliver. Whether shoe soles, cell phone covers, dampers or handles - the TPA 4006 P makes elastic components child's play.
INFINAM® TPC 8008 P
The Evonik INFINAM® TPC 8008 P brings flexibility to production - in two ways. On the one hand, the TPC 8008 P produces components with high flexibility and outstanding rebound behavior; on the other hand, it can be processed with all common powder-based 3D printing technologies - whether HSS, SLS, MJF or many more.
But the TPC 8008 P not only stands out for its flexibility. It is also resistant to most chemicals and moisture. Furthermore, the TPC 8008 P offers a unique combination of elasticity and toughness that has never been achieved before.
TPC 8008 P also offers flexibility in the areas of application. Whether consumer goods, automotive parts or medical applications with short-term skin contact - the TPC 8008 P does not just write flexibility in capital letters because it is a noun!
Conclusion
Evonik has already made its mark in additive manufacturing as an OEM and with its photopolymers and PEEK filament. With the expansion of its INFINAM® series of polymer powders, this footprint will be even bigger. Evonik is leveraging its long experience in specialty chemicals and as an OEM of polymer powders to ensure the best possible quality in this powder series.
This quality extends not only to the mechanical properties or the appearance of the components - the INFINAM® powder series also pays special attention to climate friendliness and cost-effectiveness. For example, the various PA materials deliver a recycling rate of 100% and a refresh rate of 70/30 (old powder/new powder), which puts it far ahead of the competition in this area.
Evonik's footprint will certainly continue to grow in the future. After all, the company is constantly working on expanding its materials portfolio. We can't wait to see what else Evonik has in store for us!