A new filament from 3D printing materials manufacturer Polymaker will be one of the new products the company is presenting at TCT Asia, the 3D printing trade show in Shanghai, China, from May 26-28, 2021. The company produces specifically engineered products for a wide range of applications.
Called Polymaker PC-r, this new filament is based on a recycled polycarbonate developed by Covestro, derived from 19-litre bottles from Chinese water supplier Nongfu Spring. Covestro blends the plastic waste with virgin material to yield a polycarbonate base that can be extruded into filaments for use in electronics automotive and other industries.
Using a dedicated post-consumer waste stream eliminates the need for the sorting and identification of the plastic is necessary, making it possible to be recycled in a cost-effective manner. Large-volume water bottles are commonly used in private households and public places and these are collected and refilled again and again before finally being discarded and sent for recycling.
The high-temperature material features outstanding thermal stability and strength. Because of its properties, a constant temperature chamber is required for successful printing.
In print tests with Polymaker PC-r conducted by machine manufacturer Intamsys on its FUNMAT PRO 410 printer the material was shown to be extremely easy to process. The test scores show good values for tensile strength, Young's modulus, flexural strength and flexural modulus, which were slightly higher than standard polycarbonate.
Moreover, the filament offers a more sustainable alternative to conventionally produced filament: compared to virgin material, the filament using recycled material has a smaller carbon footprint, is more durable and it meets industry-specific requirements such as the Blue Angel and EPEAT seal.