09.13.18
VTT and Carbodeon Ltd Oy have developed a plastic material suitable for consumer and industrial use, enabling faster 3D printing and improving the mechanical durability of the printouts. The uDiamond filament, patented by Carbodeon and now available on the market, improves the usability of 3D technology and broadens the applications of 3D printing.
The excellent performance of the new 3D filament is based on the nanodiamond particles it contains and their ability to shape the structure and properties of the material. The material’s spherical nanodiamonds work like a lubricant and do not increase the clogging of the printer nozzle.
Nanodiamonds, for example, improve the thermal conductivity of the plastic material, which helps increase 3D printing speed. In Carbodeon’s tests, the printing speed could be increased up to 500 mm/s. Nanodiamond-reinforced PLA plastic is also easy to print with consumer-grade printers.
“This is the first product of a family that will be sold as a finished 3D filament and in a granular format, as well. VTT has been a long-term, reliable partner in this development, and has reacted to our needs quickly,” said Carbodeon CEO Vesa Myllymäki.
“The melt processing of plastics became easier and the mechanical characteristics were improved with the introduction of nanodiamonds. Based on the preliminary tests, the modulus of the 3D-printed test pieces was improved at best by more than 200% compared to the PLA-based filament already on the market. VTT´s Polymer Pilot produced the first 600 kg material batch, which Carbodeon had refined into a commercial product,” noted Satu Pasanen, research scientist at VTT in charge of the plastic piloting in the development.
The excellent performance of the new 3D filament is based on the nanodiamond particles it contains and their ability to shape the structure and properties of the material. The material’s spherical nanodiamonds work like a lubricant and do not increase the clogging of the printer nozzle.
Nanodiamonds, for example, improve the thermal conductivity of the plastic material, which helps increase 3D printing speed. In Carbodeon’s tests, the printing speed could be increased up to 500 mm/s. Nanodiamond-reinforced PLA plastic is also easy to print with consumer-grade printers.
“This is the first product of a family that will be sold as a finished 3D filament and in a granular format, as well. VTT has been a long-term, reliable partner in this development, and has reacted to our needs quickly,” said Carbodeon CEO Vesa Myllymäki.
“The melt processing of plastics became easier and the mechanical characteristics were improved with the introduction of nanodiamonds. Based on the preliminary tests, the modulus of the 3D-printed test pieces was improved at best by more than 200% compared to the PLA-based filament already on the market. VTT´s Polymer Pilot produced the first 600 kg material batch, which Carbodeon had refined into a commercial product,” noted Satu Pasanen, research scientist at VTT in charge of the plastic piloting in the development.
