The presence of PA 12, Nylon and ULTEM in the top 10 most used materials section of the latest 3DHubs trends report clearly demonstrates a growing demand for high performance, engineering materials in FDM 3D printing.
Polycarbonate (PC) filament is already established in the 3D printing market, due to it being strong, durable, and tough. However, there are concerns about its long-term impacts.
There is a potential that certain types of polycarbonate could be hazardous due to the release of Bisphenol A (BPA). Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used chemical in polycarbonate plastic and epoxy resins; however, there is great concern about its toxicity to humans and other wildlife. If BPA finds its way into food and water supplies, humans are widely exposed to it. Research has linked exposure to fertility problems, heart disease and other conditions. In March 2010, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a “chemical action plan” for BPA that proposes to list BPA as a chemical of concern that may present an unreasonable risk to certain aquatic species.
In addition to the health and environmental issues, PC can be difficult to print with. Issues include moisture – PC is very hygroscopic and will absorb moisture from the air, and warping – it tends to warp more than other materials such as ABS or PLA. Due to these issues, polycarbonate can typically only be printed successfully on enclosed printers with a heated chamber.
As an ethical brand, committed to social and environmental sustainability, Filamentive wanted to to ensure innovation and market demand are met, without compromising on health, safety and wellbeing. In collaboration with industry partners, they’ve been working to develop a high performance engineering filament, without the issues of existing materials.
This result of their research and development is bioPC. Featuring heat resistance >100°C, superior chemical resistance and unrivalled impact resistance, this is the perfect material for industrial applications. Our BPA-free formula ensures it is safe to people and also the planet, and the fact that you can print it on an open machine ensures excellent printability.
The recommended printing temperature for bioPC is 260-290°C with a heated bed temperature of 80-100°C. BioPC will be released on Friday November 17th and is available in three colours; black, white and natural, in both 1.75mm and 2.85mm diameter.
Based in the UK, Filamentive is a brand of 3D printer filament offering the best quality 3D printing materials made from recycled and sustainable sources. If interesting in ordering, please use code 3dprintcom for 15% off your first order!
You can also ‘try before you buy’ by requesting a FREE filament sample of either recycled PLA, recycled ABS or recycled PETG filament.
Discuss this and other 3D printing topics at 3DPrintBoard.com or share your thoughts below.
Ravi Toor is the Founder and Director of Filamentive.
