TETHON 3D and MECHNANO use new high-temperature 3D printing resins to make ESD parts

September 13, 2021ceramics3D printingExpert Tethon3D and the additive manufacturing materials company Mechnano have developed a new high-temperature, ESD safe resin that can be applied to SLA-based3D printingmachine.The photosensitive resin named C-lite can withstand temperatures up to 225°C and uses Mechnano’s proprietary carbon nanotube (CNT) technology-“MechT” to dissipate static electricity.According to the two companies, this is3D printingThe industry’s first high-temperature resin with ESD characteristics. Partners expect C-lite to be used in electronics manufacturing,carThere will be great demand in the electronic-related applications of, national defense and other departments.

Trent Allen, CEO of Tethon 3D, said: “Our materials team integrated the E35A CNT enabled by MechT to create a high-temperature ESD resin. Mechnano experts have played a big role, and they have a profound knowledge of nanomaterials science and chemistry. Understanding. We plan to formulate new composite materials by adding more versions of MechT to our resins to improve mechanical, electrical and thermal properties.”

△Use C-lite3D printing的晶格。 The lattice. Photo courtesy of Tethon 3D

Mechnano and MechT technology

Mechnano is located in Arizona, USA. It is a company focused on integrating CNTs into3D printingStart-ups in resin. After the release of the covert version in April this year, the company announced for the first time their MechT technology, which is used to enhance the static dissipative properties of existing resins, improve impact resistance, tear resistance, and even tensile properties. process. This technology has been developed for more than ten years, and there are more than 100 issued and pending patent protections.

So, what is CNT? CNTs were discovered in the early 1990s and have a cylindrical pure carbon structure with walls only one atom thick. Their diameter is 10,000 times smaller than a human hair, 100 times stronger than steel, and 6 times lighter in weight. Their electrical and thermal conductivity are also significantly higher than copper.

Unfortunately, these magical structures condense into millions of tubular agglomerated spheres during manufacture, making them almost useless when added to materials. Mechnano’s technology solves this problem by decomposing and separating CNTs, which can then be added to3D printingIn the material, it will not agglomerate again. The result is a customizable composite material with enhanced mechanical and functional properties.

Steven Lowder, founder and CEO of Mechnano, added: “These developments have brought about greatly improved mechanical properties; they have also allowed us to add electrical properties to plastics without reducing mechanical properties; improve and increase thermal properties. , Embedded optical properties, and even add magnetic properties to plastics.”

△CNTs can be used to develop composite materials with better mechanical, thermal and electrical properties. Photo courtesy of Mechnano

C-lite resin

Mechnano and Tethon 3D collaborated to combine the former’s E35A CNTs with the latter’s specially developed high-strength resin formula to create the final C-lite product. The development process took only about six weeks from negotiation to completion, and C-lite is now in the final testing stage before commercial release.Due to the injection of CNTs, the resin can be used for components with ESD risk. When two surfaces are in contact, electrons will move from one object to another. The anti-static material is specially designed, which can dissipate static electricity in the case of contact, and minimize the risk of fire while protecting the electronic components. Lowder said: “This is a good example of how our discrete carbon nanotube technology has the potential to change the rules of the game in the additive manufacturing industry. E35A masterbatch provides the benefits of ESD for existing materials, such as Custom high-temperature resin formulated by Tethon 3D.”

△C-lite3D printingResin. Picture from Tethon 3D

Just last month, Tethon 3D also announced a partnership with Boston-based Digital Composite Manufacturing (DCM)3D printingFortify, the company behind the platform, collaborates to develop new technical ceramics for additive manufacturing. Use Fortify’s FLUX CORE printer and Flux Developer
software
, Tethon has developed two new ceramic materials at its R&D facility in Omaha, Nevada, USA.

Elsewhere, China3D printingThe machine manufacturer Farsoon Technologies recently strengthened its cooperation with the French material manufacturer FABULOUS to developfood3D printable materials for contact and drinking water. The two companies intend to help end users with new materials specific to industrial applications, namely BLUECARE for the food contact industry and ACTIVE mainly for the water industry.

(Editor in charge: admin)

TETHON 3D and MECHNANO use new high-temperature 3D printing resins to make ESD parts

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