The TCT Technology Innovation Materials Award 2017 shortlist has been revealed, with six nominations vying for the prize.
This is the second of our ‘Technology Innovation’ series of TCT Awards, after the Hardware category shortlist was announced yesterday. In the six working days prior, we announced the shortlists to our Application awards, set to recognise the best applications of 3D technologies.
Materials, however, has been the perennial bugbear since the birth of the Rapid Prototyping industry. Even today, with a significantly expanded set of polymers, metal, ceramics, and more, available for additive technologies, the consensus is that it’s still holding the industry back. Each new material has the potential to open up a dozen new applications. The material innovation deemed to carry the most potential will win this year’s award.
The winner of the award will be announced on the evening of 27th September at the Birmingham Town Hall, the middle evening of the TCT Show. British television actor and presenter, Robert Llywellyn, best known for his role as Kryten in cult sci-fi sitcom, Red Dwarf, will present the inaugural TCT Awards.
Below is the shortlist for the TCT Technology Innovation Materials Award in full. Each of these submissions will be sent in full to a selection of the TCT Expert Advisory Board. The board comprises many disciplines, and we will be splitting the categories between those who are bet placed to judge particular categories.
TCT Technology Innovation Materials Award – Shortlist
Polymaker – Polycast
Polymaker’s Polycast material has been designed for the low-wax casting of metal. It can be used with 3D printing to replace wax patterns used in inductrial investment casting processes. It can eliminate the need for tooling and with 3D printing can create complex geometries not possible with tooling.
Carbon – RPU 70
Carbon’s Rigid Polyurethane 70 grade promises versatility, toughness and rigidity. Comparable to ABS it has been utilised for parts and products in the consumer, automotive, and industrial sectors.
Essentium Materials – FlashFuse Filament
FlashFuse Filament was developed by Essentium Materials in collaboration with BASF. They set about designing a filament that would enable the FFF 3D printing of more robust parts, with strong and durable properties. The result was FlashFuse Filament.
Markforged – Onyx
Onyx is Markforged’s micro-carbon reinforced nylon material, able to produce strong, stiff and heat tolerant parts. Components made with Onyx also boast high quality surface finish. The material can be supported by all of Markforged’s 3D printing platforms.
Nano Dimension – Conductive & Dielectric Inks
Nano Dimension’s conductive and dielectric inks, under the AgCite family, deliver what the company believes to be unparalleled conductivity for inkjet deposition – meaning less ink is needed. They also bring benefits in adhesion and flexibility, and are sintered at low temperatures.
DSM Somos – Taurus
Taurus is the latest addition to Somos’ high impact family of stereolithography materials. Parts printed with Taurus are said to be easy to clean and finish, and its high heat deflection temperature increases the number of applications it can be harnessed for. In particular, Somos is targeting the automotive and aerospace industries with this material.
