Key Takeaways
- Toray Industries, Inc. has developed Toraypearl PA12, a spherical polyamide (PA) 12 powder for 3D printing
- The new material is compatible with powder bed fusion (PBF)-type 3D printers and offers improved surface smoothness and high impact strength
- Conventional PA12 powders account for approximately 70% of the polymer PBF market, but have limitations such as irregularly shaped particles and reduced density
- Toraypearl PA12 has a uniform spherical shape, enabling dense and homogeneous powder packing, and resulting in significantly improved surface smoothness and enhanced impact strength
Introduction to Toraypearl PA12
Toray Industries, Inc. has announced the development of Toraypearl PA12, a truly spherical PA12 powder designed for use in powder bed fusion (PBF)-type 3D printers. This new material leverages Toray's proprietary polymer particle engineering technology to enable both excellent surface smoothness and high impact strength in 3D-printed parts.
Benefits of Toraypearl PA12
The use of Toraypearl PA12 in 3D printing offers several benefits, including:
Improved Surface Smoothness
Toraypearl PA12 has a uniform spherical shape, which enables dense and homogeneous powder packing, resulting in significantly improved surface smoothness. The surface roughness (Ra) of parts printed with Toraypearl PA12 is approximately 7 μm, which is approximately 2.5 times better than conventional PA12 powders.
Enhanced Impact Strength
The uniform spherical shape of Toraypearl PA12 also enables the material to exhibit its inherent mechanical properties, including impact strength. The Charpy impact strength of Toraypearl PA12 is 50 kJ/m², which is more than 2 times better than conventional PA12 powders.
Comparison of Toraypearl PA12 and Conventional PA12 Powders
The following table compares the properties of Toraypearl PA12 and conventional PA12 powders:
| Property | Toraypearl PA12 | Conventional PA12 Powders |
|---|---|---|
| Particle Shape | Spherical | Irregular |
| Surface Roughness (Ra) | ≈ 7 μm | ≈ 17.5 μm |
| Impact Strength | 50 kJ/m² | ≈ 25 kJ/m² |
| Density | High | Lower |
Conclusion
Toraypearl PA12 is a significant development in the field of 3D printing, offering improved surface smoothness and enhanced impact strength compared to conventional PA12 powders. With its uniform spherical shape and high density, Toraypearl PA12 is an ideal material for use in PBF-type 3D printers, and is expected to find applications in a wide range of industries, including automotive, aerospace, and consumer products.
Bottom Line
In summary, Toraypearl PA12 is a game-changing material for 3D printing, offering improved surface smoothness and enhanced impact strength compared to conventional PA12 powders. With its unique properties and benefits, Toraypearl PA12 is expected to play a significant role in the growth and development of the 3D printing industry, enabling the creation of complex and functional parts with high precision and accuracy.