Global nutritional science firm and materials producerDSMhas introduced a new bio-based 3D printing polymer called EcoPaXX AM4001 GF (G).
DSM has designed its material to deliver on both performance and sustainability, and despite featuring 42 percent organic content, it reportedly demonstrates “excellent” thermal and mechanical properties. When used within the Fused Granulate Fabrication (FGF) 3D printing process, the plastic could enable users to create more lightweight automotive parts, that leave a reduced carbon footprint.
“ Ecopaxx AM4001 GF（G）是DSM专有技术的组合，也是自然界植物的力量，” DSM添加剂制造业创新总监Geoff Gardner说。“该材料是颗粒打印汽车结构零件，并将机械性能与宽温度范围相结合的理想选择。”
DSM的可持续性证书
DSM可能具有广泛的业务组合，包括一系列营养，健康和材料相关的利益，但它也对3D打印进行了大量投资。在2017年，该公司launched a divisionthat’s致力于开发增材制造材料，此后建立了各种合作伙伴关系以扩展其应用程序。
At present, the company offers materials that are compatible with SLA, FDM and PBF systems, but it has recently targeted growth in its FGF material offering. As a result, it has increasingly started to work with the users and producers of pellet-based systems such as large-scale 3D printer distributorCead。
The companies have since focused on creating new feedstock, tooling and end-use applications for FGF technologies, that could enable the production of注射成型级零件。Elseh Where，DSM与3D打印零件供应商合作Nedcam, to develop专门的FGF组件适合在海洋行业中使用的。
The company has also demonstrated a commitment to producing more eco-friendly materials in the last few years, and participated in green projects such as thesustainable footbridge鹿特丹正在建设中。目前，该桥正在使用该公司的砷纤维增强热塑性（FRP）建造，这可以大大降低该结构的整体碳足迹。
Considering DSM’s recent record of FGF and eco-friendly collaborations, it’s unsurprising that its newest 3D printing material is focused on these two potential markets. Interestingly though, the green credentials of DSM’s new polymer are not just based on its organic content. The material could also enable the creation of lightweight automotive parts that yield further emission reductions later on.
DSM’s EcoPaXX line of sustainable materials
EcoPaXX AM4001 is the first of DSM’s EcoPaXX range of engineering materials to be designed specifically for use within 3D printing applications. The polyamide PA410 comes in pellet form, which makes it ideal for producing rigid industrial parts quickly and efficiently using a variety of large-format FGF systems.
根据DSM的说法，该材料的特征是高水平的热，化学和机械耐药性以及“良好的表面特性”。此外，由于使用该公司的PA410技术创建了聚合物，因此它比经典的PA6/66吸收的水分少，从而更容易打印和后处理。
该聚合物本身已获得ISO认证，以验证其由42％的生物基材料组成，其几乎一半的化妆品由蓖麻植物制成。除了比化学基材料更环保外，Ecopaxx聚合物的组成还可以使其成为生产更有效的轻质汽车零件的理想选择。
3D printing already enables manufacturers to easily adjust the internal geometries of complex parts, and reduce the costs and lead times associated with low volume production. Leveraging DSM’s new material, these users could now be able to create lightweight car parts, that meet lower emissions standards, and have a smaller carbon footprint overall.
3D打印中环保聚合物的兴起
在3D打印中，可持续性正成为讨论的核心主题，导致许多研究人员开发了自己的基于生物的制造材料。
Researchers from哈佛大学已经开发了一个biocompatible 3D printing materialthat can be pre-programmed with reversible shape memory capabilities. The polymer, which was created using recycled wool, has potential applications in the medical prosthesis and textile sectors.
A team from theUniversity of Freiburg, meanwhile, have created a wood-based eco-friendly additive manufacturing material. By combining lignin with cellulose balls, the researchers were able to develop acrystalline polymerthat could be used with the construction industry.
Scientists from the Lithuania-basedVilnius University和考纳斯技术大学have gone one further, and developed a fully-recyclable resin. The material could be used within low-volume manufacturing applications to produce prototype parts at a lower cost.
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Featured image shows a stock image of an adult handing a child a miniature planet Earth. Image via DSM.
