Last year, in April 2021, specialty chemicals company Evonik launched a product line of photopolymers for use with VAT polymerization technologies. This product line was launched with the materials INFINAM® TI 3100 L and INFINAM® ST 6100 L ideal for a number of applications that range from industrial, consumer goods to automotive parts.
With the release of three new INFINAM® photopolymers for this product line, the purple brand sticks to its strategy of expanding the accessibility of “ready-to-use” high-performance materials that could be processed by a wide range of AM technologies. The new INFINAM® photopolymers include INFINAM® RG 2000 L, INFINAM® RG 7100 L and INFINAM® TI 5400 L.
“As one of Evonik’s six innovation growth fields, we are investing above average in the development of new formulations or the further development of existing products. A broad material landscape is the basis for permanently establishing 3D printing as another large-scale industrial manufacturing technology,” says Lutz Mindach, Head of Research Development & Innovation Additive Manufacturing at Evonik.
What are the key characteristics of each material?
INFINAM® RG 2000 L is a photo-resin that cures quickly. With a clear liquid formulation, the material’s low yellowing index – even after prolonged UV irradiation makes it a great fit for 3D printed eyewear frames, microfluidic reactors or transparent high-end prototypes where particular attention should be paid to inner workings of complex assemblies. Furthermore, the material’s light transmission opens up a range of applications such as lenses, light guides and illumination covers.
The second material, INFINAM® RG 7100 L, was developed with DLP 3D printing in mind. Ideal for parts with isotropic properties and low moisture absorption or parts that exhibit fine features such as smooth and glossy surfaces, the photopolymer’s mechanical properties are comparable to those of an ABS material. It delivers high ductility and high impact strength, and AM parts produced using this material can be machined while remaining fracture resistant when subjected to high forces. Examples of applications that the material enables, include design visualizations, drones, buckles or automotive parts.
As for the third material, INFINAM® TI 5400 L, its development is the result of several demands Evonik received from the Asian region. It aims to meet the requests for a PVC-like resin. The white colored resin is a great fit for parts with a high level of detail and excellent surface quality that are virtually indistinguishable from comparable injection-molded parts. According to Evonik, the fully cured material combines excellent impact strength with high elongation at break and exhibits long-lasting thermomechanical performance.
As a reminder, Evonik drives 3D printing as a large-scale industrial manufacturing technology along the entire value chain. In this context, the company has organized its product range under the new INFINAM® brand. Visitors at Formnext in Frankfurt am Main, will be able to discover more about Evonik’s material portfolio in hall 12.1, booth C59.
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