Sample PP parts from Apium.
Sample PP parts from Apium.
Apium Additive Technologies has announced the addition of a polypropylene (PP) material to its additive manufacturing portfolio ahead of its appearance at Formnext.
The company is set to make further announcements during the event, but with the launch of this new material has already significantly enhanced its offering to users of its P Series 3D printing system. Its portfolio also includes PEEK, carbon fibre reinforced PEEK, POM-C and PVDF materials.
PP, a linear hydrocarbon thermoplastic polymer, has a melting range between 130°C and 171°C and is among the most widely used commodity polymers in industrial production. The polypropylene market was thus estimated to be worth more than $75B in 2017, and represented an obvious product for Apium to offer its users.
The material boasts very good chemical resistance, making it a suitable choice for container of liquids, such as cleaning agents, and also good fatigue resistance and shape retention, meaning living hinges is also a viable application. Its very high resistance to electricity also makes it suitable for electronic components.
Apium says by offering this material to its customers, they can now ‘extend their manufacturing power’. The company also promises the unhindered technical support needed to assist users of the material, giving them a better chance to realise their manufacturing goals.
The company’s P Series is an extrusion-based desktop platform designed to process high temperature polymers with quality and reproducibility. In order to increase the capabilities of the machine, Apium is focused on making more compatible materials available to users.
Apium will be exhibiting at Formnext 2018 in Hall 3.1 Boot C70 between November 13th – November 16th, where further product announcements are due.
