Added Value Properties

Are your product performance criteria hard to meet by the existing materials currently available on the market? 

The Roffelsen 3D R&D team can develop 3D materials to exceed your highest expectations!

Roffelsen 3D team has experience and know-how to provide a huge range of added value properties to your 3D printing raw materials.

Please contact us to discuss the possibilities.

Biobased

Bio-based polymers  are obtained from renewable resources (algae, bacteria, microorganisms, plants, etc.). They can be synthetized either directly or through the monomers synthesis that have to be followed by the polymerization. There are many different market available bio-based polymers, of which the best known is polylactic acid (PLA).

Roffelsen 3D is engaged in developing and producing sustainable solutions for the 3D printing industry. We strive to produce the most environmentally friendly 3D printing materials: biobased, compostable, biodegradable and/or with recycled content.

Biobased

Bio-based polymers  are obtained from renewable resources (algae, bacteria, microorganisms, plants, etc.). They can be synthetized either directly or through the monomers synthesis that have to be followed by the polymerization. There are many different market available bio-based polymers, of which the best known is polylactic acid (PLA).

Roffelsen 3D is engaged in developing and producing sustainable solutions for the 3D printing industry. We strive to produce the most environmental friendly 3D printing materials: biobased, compostable, biodegradable and/or with recycled content.

Biodegradable

Both biodegradable plastics and compostable plastics are materials that break down into their organic constituents.

Compostability and biodegradability are two different features!

Composting typically takes place in aerobic environments, while biodegradation typically takes place in anaerobic environments. Compostability is degradation of the polymer into its organic components under specified conditions and biodegradability is degradation of the polymer in a natural biosphere.

Some biobased polymers, sourced from non-fossil materials, decompose naturally in the environment. These polymers are biodegradable as well as compostable in a natural environment.

While other biobased polymers require strict control of environmental factors, including higher temperatures, pressure and nutrient concentration, as well as specific chemical ratios in order to decompose. These strict conditions can only be recreated in industrial composting plants. Such polymers are (industrially) compostable, but not biodegradable. PLA is a good example of a biobased polymer, which is only compostable under industrial conditions and is not biodegradable as it will only undergo biodegradation when all conditions are met.

Roffelsen 3D is engaged in developing and producing sustainable solutions for the 3D printing industry. We strive to produce the most environmentally friendly 3 D printing materials: biobased, compostable, biodegradable and/or with recycled content.

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Colors

Roffelsen 3D can provide 3D printing filaments and granules in 12 different colors. 

Colors

Roffelsen 3D can provide 3D printing filaments and granules in 12 different colors. 

Fire Retardant

Polymers are “easily” combustible but for several applications they need to be flame retardant.

When exposed to fire, polymers degrade into smaller/shorter polymers until they become a combustible gas. To prevent or slow down this degradation process flame retardant additives can be incorporated into the polymer product.

Depending on the type of the flame retardant they work as a gas-phase, endothermic or char forming flame retardants.

o   Gas-phase flame retardants are very effective and comprise mostly of halogenated additives.

o   Endothermic flame retardants act in the gas-phase and solid (condensed phase) and can release water to cool and dilute the flammable gasses.

o   Char forming flame retardants act in the solid phase and act as a barrier for combustible gasses.

Roffelsen 3D’s R&D team has a large experience in the development of sustainable environmentally friendly flame retardant solutions. Various in-house tests are available to determine fire retardant properties of polymers (i.e. UL94 and Oxygen Induction Test).

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Recycled

Roffelsen 3D is engaged in developing and producing sustainable solutions for the 3D printing industry. We strive to produce the most environmental friendly 3 D printing materials: biobased, compostable, biodegradable and/or with recycled content.

Recycled

Roffelsen 3D is engaged in developing and producing sustainable solutions for the 3D printing industry. We strive to produce the most environmental friendly 3 D printing materials: biobased, compostable, biodegradable and/or with recycled content.

Reinforced

Mechanical properties can be increased by means of incorporating glass-, carbon of aramid fibers.

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(Permanent) anti-static

Usual polymers are insulating materials subjected to electrostatic build-up and discharge depending on the surface resistivity of the part.

In general dissipative polymers have:

  • A surface resistivity in a range from 105 or 106 up to 1012 ohms/sq.
  • A static discharge half-life generally inferior to 60 seconds.

Very slow charge decay results in dust attraction and uncontrolled electrostatic discharge (ESD).  Very fast charge decay can damage electronic components.

Polymers themselves are sensitive for building-up electrical charge during production or use. To prevent the electrical charge build-up several solutions are known:

  • Migrating additives,
  • Electrically conductive additives carbon black and carbon nanotubes,
  • Soap-like hydrophilic/hydrophobic additives or coatings.

For each applications there is degree of anti-staticity and duration of the anti-static properties desirable.

For most (polymer) applications Roffelsen 3D can develop and produce tailor-made 3D printing raw materials with anti-static or permanent anti-static solutions.

(Permanent) anti-static

Usual polymers are insulating materials subjected to electrostatic build-up and discharge depending on the surface resistivity of the part.

In general dissipative polymers have:

  • A surface resistivity in a range from 105 or 106 up to 1012 ohms/sq.
  • A static discharge half-life generally inferior to 60 seconds.

Very slow charge decay results in dust attraction and uncontrolled electrostatic discharge (ESD).  Very fast charge decay can damage electronic components.

Polymers themselves are sensitive for building-up electrical charge during production of use. To prevent the electrical charge build-up several solutions are known:

  • Migrating additives,
  • Electrical conductive additives carbon black and carbon nanotubes,
  • Soap-like hydrophilic/hydrophobic additives or coatings.

For each applications there is degree of anti-staticity and duration of the anti-static properties desirable.

For most (polymer) applications Roffelsen 3D can develop and produce tailor-made 3D printing raw materials with anti-static or permanent anti-static solutions.

UV stabilization

Polymers undergo degradation due to UV radiation.

There are several ways known to improve the degradation rate by adding e.g. UV blockers and/or radical scavengers to the polymer product.

Roffelsen 3D has long time experience in developing the long-term UV stability of polymer products, even for more than 20 years of outdoor exposure.

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Other properties

The amount of possible added value properties is huge. In case the added value property you are looking for is not listed above, please contact us to discuss the what we can do for you.