— By Plasteurope.com correspondent — 

Under the name Infinam, German speciality chemicals and plastics producer Evonik (Essen; www.evonik.com) has unveiled new PA 12-based flame retardant materials with carbon black-embedded 3D-printable powders.

Among the polyamide specialities on display at the recent Formnext24 additive manufacturing trade show in Frankfurt, Germany, were the models Infinam 6013 PA and the new Infinam 6014 P 3D-printable powders. Both, Evonik said, feature a “relatively substantial” amount of carbon black in the core of each particle. 

Produced through the precipitation process, the powders to be directly marketed by Evonik are specially designed for powder bed fusion (PBF) techniques such as Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and claimed to offer high flowability and homogenous sintering.

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According to the company, the high core-shell carbon black content allows for true pigmentation uniformity while minimising visibility of surface abrasion and wear. Other features include elevated resistance to ultraviolet rays and greater isotropic performance.

Due to these properties, the black powders are particularly suitable for making products that need to withstand an elevated exposure to heat and light, such as in the aerospace and automotive industries, said Arnim Kraatz, director of powder bed fusion at Evonik.

Additionally launched at Formnext24t was HP 3D HR PA12 FR, a PA 12-based 3D-printable polymer developed jointly by Evonik and US electronics giant HP (Palo Alto, California; www.hp.com), its long-time cooperation partner. 

All of the PA 12 powders used in this series – which are to be marketed by HP – are produced using renewable energy at Evonik’s Marl, Germany, site. The products are part of the company’s Smart Materials division that encompasses businesses with innovative materials designed to enable resource-saving solutions and replace conventional materials.