Italian compounder Xenia Materials has announced the launch of XECARB® PPA-CF, a new FFF/FDM filament based on a bio-based PPA matrix reinforced with 20% carbon fibre. The material targets demanding structural applications in automotive, aerospace, and industrial manufacturing.
Key performance figures are telling: a density of 1.21 g/cm³, a heat deflection temperature of up to 235°C, and strong chemical resistance to solvents, oils and greases. The carbon fiber reinforcement also reduces shrinkage and warpage, which translates directly into more repeatable FFF processes and tighter dimensional accuracy.
“XECARB PPA-CF delivers high mechanical, thermal and dimensional performance, which are key requirements for the production of structural components via FFF 3D printing. The material is used in production tools and fixtures such as jigs, assembly masks, drilling guides and robotic gripping systems, as well as in technical components for high-stress industrial environments where resistance and operational reliability are critical,” said Stefano Azzolin, Account Manager of Xenia’s 3DF Materials division.
The launch follows a pattern of methodical portfolio expansion from the Vicenza-based company. We first covered Xenia when it debuted a carbon fiber-reinforced PET-G for large-format additive manufacturing in early 2024, then reported on its PVDF-based compounds for pellet-fed systems and, more recently, its material contribution to an autonomous drone project at Politecnico di Milano. Each step has pushed into more demanding performance territory.
XECARB® PPA-CF fits that trajectory: PPA sits above PA12 and PA11 in the thermal performance hierarchy, making it a logical next addition for a supplier building credibility with industrial users who need materials that survive real operating conditions.
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