Arkema and 3DXTech add FluorX filament to Ultimaker Cura

French chemical and advanced materials company Arkema has joined Ultimaker’s Material Alliance Program with the addition of a new PVDF-based filament. The material, which Ultimaker users will now have access to via print profiles, is designed for producing highly technical parts that necessitate extreme performance.

The Ultimaker Material Alliance Program was launched in spring of 2018 with the aim of establishing partnerships between the Dutch 3D printer manufacturer and global material companies. The initiative, which is predicated on an open materials ethos, makes it easy for materials developers to create print profiles for their filaments with Ultimaker, enabling Ultimaker users to benefit from high-quality print results.

With Arkema’s recent announcement, Ultimaker has added a print profile for 3DXTech’s FluorX filament to its free Cura print preparation software. The high-performance filament, which offers excellent thermal and chemical resistance, is made from Arkema’s Kynar PVDF material.

“We are very excited to make this material available to Ultimaker’s thousands of users,” said Guillaume de Crevoisier, Global Business Director of 3D Printing Solutions at Arkema. “FluorX filament, made with Arkema’s Kynar PVDF, offers a new option for those requiring high quality technical parts for applications subjected to chemical, UV radiation, or flame exposure.”

Thanks to Kynar PVDF, FluorX filament boasts a number of beneficial properties for those seeking to print industrial, heavy duty parts. Notably, the material is resistant to most chemicals and solvents, making it suitable for a range of applications in harsh environments. The material can be used in the automotive, industrial and aerospace industries for producing parts like jigs, fixtures and short-run manufacturing components.

“FluorX filament customers, just like Arkema’s traditional Kynar PVDF resin customers, expect the best possible performance from their materials,” added Matt Howlett, President of 3DXTech LLC. “Having the print profile available in the Cura program is extremely helpful, especially for advanced semi-crystalline materials.”

The addition of the FluorX print profile to Cura broadens Ultimaker’s materials ecosystem for its desktop machines. Users also have access to print profiles for a range of DSM and Owens Corning materials and others.