Graphene 3D Lab’s New Scorpion Flexible Nylon Filament Takes the Sting Out of Adhesion Issues

One of the most interesting companies on the radar right now, at least in terms of material development, is Graphene 3D Lab. Not only has the New York company been actively developing materials made from “wonder material” graphene, but they’ve been releasing new, unique specialty filaments – both graphene- and non-graphene-based – on a fairly regular basis. Recent releases include a magnetic filament and a conductive filament, among others. Today Graphene 3D Lab has announced the release of their newest filament, and while it’s not as glamorous as a magnetic or conductive material, it’s still plenty exciting. 

While everyone has their favorite types of 3D printing material, each one still comes with its own set of particular frustrations. PLA gets jammed, ABS warps, etc. Nylon filament is popular, particularly in manufacturing environments, for its combination of strength and flexibility, but one of the most common complaints about the material is its poor adhesion. Graphene 3D Lab’s new Scorpion Flexible Nylon was designed to eliminate that problem, while amping up the properties that make it such an attractive material.

“Nylon attracted a lot of interest in the 3D printing industry due to its strength,” said Graphene 3D Lab co-CEO Daniel Stolyarov. “However the material has a problem with the interlayer adhesion being too weak. I am proud to say that our R&D team has successfully resolved this issue. I believe that our customers will truly love the Scorpion Flexible Nylon and look forward to receiving their feedback.”

Scorpion’s strong adhesive properties make for much more durable mechanical parts. The filament itself is resilient enough to take a lot of abuse without losing shape; according to Graphene 3D Lab, a handle made from the filament was able to easily lift 20 pounds in testing without any damage. It’s also very bendable, making it ideal for designers who want to create designs with complex shapes. Flexibility increases with thinner printed layers, but it doesn’t lose its strength – an item printed with the filament can be bent all the way back without cracking, and will spring back to its original shape when released. This, along with its smooth, comfortable surface, makes it ideal for wearable printed items.

“We are constantly looking to expand our product line to best meet the needs of our growing customer base,” said Elena Polyakova, co-CEO. “We expect the addition of the Nylon filament to play an integral role in many different commercial markets. This filament can be readily produced in large quantities and we intend to ramp up production to satisfy our customer demand.”

Scorpion Flexible Nylon is now available from Black Magic 3D, Graphene 3D Lab’s online retail site. The price isn’t bad at $29.99 for a 400g spool of either 1.75mm or 300mm diameter. Like most nylons, it’s highly sensitive to moisture, so it’s recommended that you store it in a watertight container with a desiccant. Print speed is a maximum of 55m/s, while printing temperature is anywhere from 225°C-235°C. Also, while its adhesive properties are strong, an additional adhesive is recommended to get the first layer to hold to the print bed. Discuss in the Scorpion Flexible Nylon 3D Printing filament forum over at 3DPB.com.