Haydale Composite Solutions (HCS), Haydale Graphene Industries' wholly owned subsidiary that specializes in the design, development and commercialization of advanced polymer composite materials, will be launching graphene-enhanced poly lactic acid (PLA) filaments for 3D printing at the TCT show in Birmingham on 28 and 29 September 2016.
HCS is collaborating with UK-based Filamentprint, a company specializing in the compounding and manufacture of thermoplastic filaments for 3D printing and Fullerex, Haydale's sales agent for its functionalized nanomaterials.
HCS and Filamentprint will be exhibiting these new materials at the TCT show on adjacent booths H39 and H41. The companies will also be demonstrating products being 3D printed in graphene enhanced PLA. Data sheets and price lists will be available for interested parties.
While HCS and Filamentprint will be launching their first commercially available graphene -enhanced PLA filaments, the companies are also developing an extended range of graphene enhanced thermoplastics including ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene), Nylon and Polypropylene materials.
The Haydale graphene enhanced PLA filaments, available in 1.75mm and 2.85 mm diameters, are said to have been trialled by a number of 3D printing companies who have reported a number of major benefits, including:
- Excellent first layer adhesion and z axis strength retention;
- Major increase in speed of processing;
- Improved strength and stiffness;
- Better impact performance;
- Excellent print quality and surface finish;
- Improved dimensional accuracy; and
- Compatibility with a broad range of printers and ease of use.