A World of Polymers: Covestro Covers All the Material Bases for 3D Printing

Covestro is in the business of improving products–and processes–in industries around the globe. As one of the leading developers of high-tech polymers, their focus in bringing those materials to the world is not only to provide further accessibility with 3D printing and materials but to see that the manufacturers and makers of today are able to innovate, 3D print a wide range of projects, and enjoy self-sustainability, which is one of the most stunning benefits of the new technology.

Previously Bayer MaterialScience, Covestro leads in many areas regarding materials, from polyurethanes to polycarbonates to raw materials that are used in a variety of coatings, adhesives, and specialty chemicals, many of which are used to protect cars, furniture and floors, as well as applying to products for sports, leisure, cosmetics, textiles, and medical. An independent subgroup within the Bayer company, Covestro has 30 sites within Europe, Asia, and America.

The company, renamed this year, envisions numerous uses for their products and raw materials in 3D printing, but thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) in particular, due to the permanent bonding it allows between layers being printed. TPU is also a material that offers ‘superior abrasion resistance’ as well as great flexibility due to its elastic nature.

Along with this, Covestro is also offering their polycarbonate materials for 3D printing and has partnered with Polymaker, a Chinese filament manufacturer, for offering their materials around the world. Polymaker, manufacturing from Shanghai, also operates in Europe, the Netherlands, and the US. We’ve reported on this partnership previously, as the two embarked on providing 3D printing filament for the desktop.

Not ignoring the SLS 3D printing market by any means, Covestro has also developed Desmosint, another TPU material. Working with partner Lehmann&Voss&Co., it’s produced as Luvosint for laser sintering. Lehmann&Voss&Co., headquartered in Hamburg, Germany, has been specializing in chemicals and minerals for their industrial client base for 120 years. They also offer a wide range of products and services around the world, with headquarters in Europe, Asia, and the US.

“The development of appropriate materials, in particular, plays a key role in the continued expansion of additive production methods,” said Dr. Thomas Büsgen, Senior Project Manager 3D Printing Technology at Covestro. “We aim to enable significantly more functions than in the past.”

Covestro offers various polyurethane products for the powders, infiltrates, and binding agents used for SLS 3D printing, as well as SLA with raw polyurethane materials that can be used to produce UV curing resins.

On a mission to make the world a brighter place, Covestro has a special focus on sustainability as well as helping to find solutions and deal with the challenges we experience globally due to ‘climate change, resource scarcity, population change and urbanization.’ The Covestro team sees all of these issues and their corresponding solutions as ways to improve industrial processes and spur on further growth as well. Their products are currently in wide use for diverse applications around the world.

Have you used any of Covestro’s materials in the past?  Let’s hear your thoughts and feedback in the Convestro forum thread on 3DPB.com.