Aug 15 2016
Image Credit: nobeastsofierce/Shutterstock.com
Haydale Graphene Industry PLC’s (HGI) owned subsidiary, Haydale Composite Solutions (HCS) has announced its commercial partnership with Fullerex Ltd and Filamentprint (UK) Ltd for the purpose of promoting and selling graphene-enhanced Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) filaments that are used in 3D printing devices.
Fullerex is the sales agent of Haydale’s functionalized nano materials and Filamentprint specializes in the production and compounding of thermoplastic filaments used in 3D printing. With the advent of 3D printing, designers can create real components, models or prototype components directly on a computer using a computer aided design (CAD) without the need for producing tooling or molds.
The graphene-enhanced PLA filament comes in two diameters, 2.85 mm and 1.75 mm. Numerous 3D printing companies have used these PLA filaments and have reported various advantages.
These advantages include effective retention of z axis and first layer adhesion, increased processing speed, improved stiffness and strength, enhanced impact performance, high quality surface finish and print, better accuracy of dimension, ease of use and compatibility with a wide variety of printers.
HCS and Filamentprint are displaying the new materials at the TCT show to be held on 28th and 29th September in NEC Birmingham. Staff of all the three companies will be available at adjacent booths H41 and H39, to explain the characteristics and advantages of the graphene-enhanced filaments.
These include how the thermal, physical, electrical and mechanical characteristics of the material can be designed to suit the requirements of varied markets and applications. Demonstrations of products that are 3D printed using graphene-enhanced filaments will also be provided by the companies. Interested parties can find price lists and data sheets at the booths.
We are very excited about the development of graphene enhanced Thermoplastic materials for 3D printing. These new materials offer so many benefits including the ability to make parts stiffer, stronger and faster! Speed of print has historically been a barrier to wide scale take up of 3D printing. In the future, the thought of making structural components direct from CAD excites us enormously.
Gerry Boyce, Managing Director, HCS
In addition to launching their first graphene-enhanced PLA filaments that are available commercially, HCS and Filamentprint are also developing a number of graphene-enhanced thermoplastics such as Polypropylene (PP), Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (ABS) and Nylon materials. The company staff will also be willing to discuss these new projects and HCS and Filamentprint’s ability to create customized graphene-enhanced thermoplastic filaments so as to meet the requirements of a company.
Clive Wilcox, Managing Director of Filamentprint (UK) Ltd added, "We are unashamed nano technology enthusiasts. Our thinking incorporates that of both the major industrialists through to the hobbyists. Our collaboration with Haydale and Fullerex is the next logical step in the developmental process to enable us to provide bespoke solutions for our clients' requirements."
The booths will also have sample reels of the PLA filaments for trail purposes. All three companies would be interested in talking to potential customers and geographical distributers of the PLA filaments.
Significant improvements in conventional materials are needed to move FDM 3D printers beyond making prototypes or display models and into a capable technology for rapidly manufacturing mechanically robust, functional parts. Haydale's ability to engineer Graphene to properly exploit its desirable properties has been a vital prerequisite to bridge this gap. This filament is easy to use and has broad compatibility, so is an exciting option regardless of whether you are a hobbyist or an industrial manufacturer.
Joe Eldridge, Director, Fullerex Ltd
Source: http://www.hermesfinancialpr.co.uk