Stratasys Expands Materials Ecosystem With 16 New Materials

Stratasys Ltd. has added new manufacturing materials across three 3D printing technologies, including third-party materials for fused deposition modeling 3D printers for the first time. 

New materials include Stratasys Validated materials for FDM 3D printers, various open, exploratory materials for the P3-based Origin One 3D printer that can be used with an Open Material License, and polypropylene powder for the SAF technology-powered H350 3D printer.

Stratasys CEO Dr. Yoav Zeif says the expanded material options open up more compelling additive manufacturing use cases for Stratasys customers. “When customers identify opportunities for how polymer 3D printing can transform their manufacturing, we want them to have the confidence that Stratasys has the solutions—that’s what leaders do,” he says. “With five 3D printing technologies that address the vast majority of the industrial polymer market and an open software ecosystem across the entire digital thread, our growing material ecosystem means customers are getting more materials faster, allowing them to quickly turn their additive manufacturing ideas into reality.”

First Validated Third-Party FDM Materials

Stratasys is partnering with materials providers Covestro, Kimya and Victrex plc to make Stratasys Validated materials available for Stratasys FDM printers, starting with the Fortus 450mc platform. These materials have been validated by Stratasys with basic reliability testing to accelerate the expansion of material options available in the marketplace. New FDM materials include:

• High performance polymers: Arkema/Kimya PEKK-SC, a semi-crystalline PEKK thermoplastic polymer based on KEPSTAN by Arkema; and VICTREX AM 200, a semi-crystalline LMPAEK thermoplastic filament compatible with soluble support
• Reinforced and specialty polymers: Covestro PA6/66 GF20 FR, a flame-resistant, glass fiber composite material
• Engineering polymers: Kimya PC FR, a flame-resistant polycarbonate material
• Standard Grade Polymer: HIPS high impact polystyrene

The Validated third-party materials are expected to ship before year-end.

Stratasys has introduced a new material at the Stratasys Preferred tier. FDM Nylon-CF10 is a strong, carbon fiber composite material expected to be available by mid-year.

Open Exploratory Materials for Origin One

Stratasys continues to expand use cases served by the Origin One 3D printer by opening access to novel materials through an annual Open Material License (OML), which Stratasys introduced last fall. Stratasys has identified eight new materials for the OML program that unlock end-use applications with demanding requirements.

Materials developers contributing new Open materials to the program include Covestro, Evonik, Arkema, Forward AM from BASF, Mechnano, Tethon 3D, Liqcreate and polySpectra. The materials include photopolymer resins for molding, casting, high-temperature, ceramic, electrostatics dissipative (ESD), and elastic applications. The materials can be purchased directly from material partners or their distributors and are designed for advanced users for testing, development, and end-use parts with exotic or novel properties.

H350 to Add Polypropylene

Stratasys announced that polypropylene (PP) material for the H350 3D printer powered by SAF technology, designed for volume production of 3D-printed parts. Polypropylene is a versatile, flexible polymer, the company reports. Its higher ductility and chemical resistance, and its ability to be sterilized makes it suitable for various applications, such as interior and exterior automotive parts, prosthetics, and consumer goods, Stratasys adds.

Together with PA12 (also known as Nylon 12), polypropylene will expand the material set for the H350 printer from the initial Stratasys High Yield PA11, a material derived from 100% bio-based castor beans. PA12 provides geometric accuracy, chemical resistance and stiffness for machine components and prototyping, according to Stratasys. Both PA12 and PP are expected to be available later in 2022.

Sources: Press materials received from the company and additional information gleaned from the company’s website.

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