Brazilian petrochemical company Braskem recently announced the launch of its first line of sustainable 3D printing filaments. The São Paulo-based petrochemical company is known for being the largest producer of polyolefins in the Americas. Market leader and pioneer producer of biopolymers on an industrial scale, it has declared that these new materials will be the first of their kind. The new sustainable materials, three in all, include Bio-based EVA, recycled PE/PP blend as much as Recycled PE/PP blend with Carbon Fiber.
In today’s world, where growing global environmental problems have become a sad and undeniable reality, many 3D printing companies are dedicating their research to finding more sustainable alternatives to the usual production methods. Working towards the same goal, Braskem has also been directing its efforts towards creating its latest set of filaments in a more environmentally friendly way. As a result of those efforts, Braskem now proudly presents its new collection of filaments. Jason Vagnozzi, Global Additive Manufacturing Business Director at Braskem, explained: “Braskem has a long history of innovating and producing more sustainable bio-based polymers, and the announcement of the launch of green EVA and recycled polymer 3D printing filaments reaffirms our commitment to a more circular and carbon-neutral future. We couldn’t be more excited to present these latest additions to our 3D printing product portfolio at the RAPID+TCT 2022 conference, as our customers look for more sustainability solutions for the future.”
Photo credits: Braskem
New Set of Braskem Filaments
The three new Braskem filaments have different origins, each one with its unique set of benefits and ways of being applied to various industrial branches. The bio-based EVA, called FL600EVA-BIO, It will be derived from unrefined sugar cane, giving it a low carbon footprint and allowing for a much more sustainable alternative to traditional flexible materials. The most obvious benefits of this material are its light weight, flexibility, ductility, and moisture resistance. Those characteristics can prove to be a valuable asset when used for final products in the consumer, packaging and industrial markets. It is important to mention when talking about the FL600EVA-BIO is that the material does not require any further drying or processing in a hot chamber and that it has excellent adhesion to the bed.
Meanwhile, the second filament, the FL600R, is a PE/PP blend, primarily sourced from recycled bottle caps, containing over 90% sustainably sourced material, all without sacrificing printability. A surprising fact about this is that the filament has the same low density, as well as the same resistance to water, chemicals and impact as similar traditional materials, although much less ecological, based on virgin polyethylene and polypropylene. FL600R filament was developed and optimized primarily for use in industrial, consumer, packaging, and automotive applications.
Photo credits: Braskem
The third filament introduced by the company is the FL605R-CF. Like the one presented above FL600R, It is a Recycled Polyolefin Filament, but this time it contains Carbon Fiber. the FL605R-CF It has all the features and benefits of the FL600R, but in addition to that, it has higher strength and stiffness, which allows it to meet different demands, such as in the aerospace industry. Similar to the other two new filaments, the FL605R-CF does not require any further drying or processing in a heated chamber and has excellent adhesion to the bed. For more information on the filaments, visit the company’s website HERE.
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*Cover photo credits: Braskem
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