Flexible plastics such as Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) and Polypropylene (PP) are gaining relevance and offer avariety of new applications. DyeMansion has therefore tuned their VaporFuse Surfacing postprocessing technology of the Powerfuse S, making it compatible with Lubrizol’s ESTANE TPU material. Beyond that, DyeMansion is announcing the forthcoming release of the new Powerfuse S PP.
The preparations for the launch of this new solution are already in full swing. Currently, DyeMansion is qualifying customers for the pilot phase. The system is to be officially revealed at Formnext 2022 later this year.
According to market experts who have seen the first parts, the technology behind the Powerfuse S PP is already achieving a PP surface quality standard suitable for industrial use today. Vapor polishing improves the mechanical properties of polypropylene parts – the outcome is sealed, washable surfaces that are visually and functionally on a par with injection molded parts. This makes completely new applications possible.
“One of the biggest limitations in Additive Manufacturing is material availability. Enabling the industrial use of PP will be a big driver for further growth in our industry. We are very happy that we found a way to provide injection molding like surfaces and enhanced properties through our Powerfuse S PP and we are very much looking forward to seeing the first high-volume use cases soon”, says Felix Ewald CEO and co-founder of DyeMansion.
The technical specifications of the special Powerfuse S PP are nearly identical to the current Powerfuse S version. DyeMansion specially developed the solvent for PP materials. It is green as well as biobased and fulfills DyeMansion’s principle of economic sustainability. This new solvent has already been successfully tested with all common PP materials on the market so far from HP, BASF, EOS, ALM, Prodways, AM Polymers or Covestro.
Another big step for VaporFuse Surfacing is the compatibility with Lubrizol’s ESTANE TPU. This material is characterized by abrasion resistance and high mechanical properties which tend to complicate traditional vapor polishing.
DyeMansion has been able to create a new program for their Powerfuse S system – designed specifically for postprocessing TPU. This new program adds another TPU to Powerfuse’s material portfolio alongside existing TPUs such as from BASF. The brand-new process is available immediately, reducing surface roughness to a minimum; sealing the surface of TPU parts making them ready to use in fields like orthotics, automotive applications, and many more.
