Evonik and Asiga collaborate on photopolymer-based 3D printing

The specialty chemicals company Evonik and Australia’s 3D printer manufacturer Asiga are strengthening their collaboration in photopolymer-based 3D printing. Both companies aim to drive forward 3D printing large-scale industrial manufacturing by extending today’s capabilities of photo-curing technologies. Evonik is contributing its expertise in the development and manufacturing of ready-to-use photopolymer materials. Asiga, in turn, is bringing its expertise in DLP 3D printers, with their open material architecture, to the joint effort.

“The cooperation with Asiga, once again, confirms the growth approach we are focusing on with our new product line of INFINAM photopolymer resins launched last year. We are sending an important signal to our customers who will now benefit from even broader access to our high-performance materials with excellent processability properties on Asiga’s DLP 3D printers to explore new infinite applications,” said Dr. Rainer Hahn, Head of Evonik’s photopolymer market segment within the Additive Manufacturing Innovation Growth Field.

Evonik’s new INFINAM photopolymers are ready-to-use, high-performance formulations that can be processed seamlessly on Asiga’s DLP 3D printers.

Asiga is an innovation driver in desktop stereolithography, launching the world’s first LED-based DLP 3D printer in 2011. Today the company continues to focus on a range of process-monitoring technologies which control part accuracy and production stability across many industries including medical and general manufacturing. Asiga’s product line covers a broad range from powerful desktop 3D printers including their MAX series to large format floor standing such as the PRO 4K.

“As we continue to strengthen our open material architecture we are delighted to provide our customers access to Evonik’s new range of INFINAM photopolymers. Combining the latest material developments in additive polymer science from Evonik, with our industrial-grade 3D printing hardware, creates robust additive manufacturing solutions with endless possibilities”, said Graham Turner, Global Operations Manager, Asiga.

Last year, Evonik introduced the first ready-to-use formulations of its new photopolymers product line for industrial 3D printing applications. INFINAM TI 3100 L leads to high toughness and impact-resistant 3D parts which can withstand strong impact or permanent mechanical effects such as pressing or impact. INFINAM ST 6100 L is setting up a new benchmark in the category of high-strength polymer resins. It combines tensile strength of 89 MPa, flexural strength of 145 MPa and HDT of 120 °C, and thus fills the material gap in ultra-high-strength photopolymers. INFINAM RG 3101 L combines excellent impact resistance with high-temperature resistance while exhibiting long-lasting thermomechanical performance.

Evonik’s 3D printing activities are bundled in the group’s additive manufacturing innovation growth field. The strategic focus is on the development and manufacturing of industrial ready-to-use high-performance materials for all major polymer-based 3D-printing technologies. The specialty chemicals company thus drives 3D printing as a large-scale industrial manufacturing technology along the entire value chain. In this context, Evonik has organized its product range under the new INFINAM brand.