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Press release
Additive Manufacturing
October 29, 2019
formnext 2019: Evonik to launch material campaign for 3D printing

Evonik plans to introduce its broad material portfolio for additive manufacturing for the first time at this year's formnext tradeshow (to be held November 19-22 in Frankfurt/Main).

The specialty chemicals company is moving the process of 3D printing a big step closer to bulk manufacturing by offering a variety of innovative 'ready-to-use' high-performance materials and additives.

'Ready-to-use' is Evonik's claim in material development for additive manufacturing. 'Our concept comprises efficient coordination of materials and equipment, developed in close consultation with our customers,' says Thomas Große-Puppendahl, the head of the Additive Manufacturing innovation growth field at Evonik.

The 3D printing market is driven by quality, freedom of design, and efficiency. It takes a sophisticated variety of materials-as well as powerful machinery and comprehensive software solutions-to meet these requirements. The 'ready-to-use' approach of Evonik is aligned with these market needs. 'Our range of innovative high-performance materials will pave the way for industrial manufacturing of components with 3D printing,' says Große-Puppendahl.

Global network

The ready-to-use material development strategy of Evonik is based on over two decades of experience with 3D printing. The specialty chemicals company came up with the first synthetic powder for additive manufacturing in 1996 and set standards for synthetic materials in 3D printing that apply to this day. In addition, Evonik can count on its application technology expertise distributed across America, Europe and Asia as well as close cooperation with customers and partners.

As the first product of the Structured Polymers technology, which was acquired in the spring of 2019 for the production of specialty polymer powders, Evonik will present an innovative copolyester at the formnext 2019 tradeshow. The material is both highly elastic and tough and can be produced in white or black, depending on the application case. It expands the company's flexible thermoplastics product range for powder-based 3D printing technologies, supplementing the existing PEBA powder.

Polyamide 613 is a new plastic powder from Evonik for 3D printing applications in higher temperature ranges. The high-performance material features exceptional mechanical strength paired with excellent chemical and temperature resistance. Its heat deflection temperature (HDT B) is around 195°C. Moreover, the high-performance powder stands out for its low water absorption-below 3 percent-, which has a positive effect on processability in 3D printing and the dimensional stability of printed 3D components.

Filaments for medical implants

As a world novelty, Evonik has developed an implant-quality plastic filament based on polyether ether ketone (PEEK) for use in 3D printing. It is suitable for use in fused filament fabrication technology and will enable additive manufacturing of three-dimensional plastic components for permanent human implants. The 'testing grade' already on the market will soon be followed by an 'implant grade' made of VESTAKEEP® i4 G, for which extensive approval-related documents can be provided.

Furthermore, Evonik is the world's only known supplier of bioresorbable polymers in filament and powder form for the 3D printing of implantable medical devices. These RESOMER® polymers are designed for use with either fused filament fabrication or selective laser sintering technologies.

Strong innovation pipeline

Evonik is also expanding its extensive expertise in polymer chemicals with strategic research collaborations. The Group recently entered into a collaboration with Cubicure, a Technical University of Vienna spin-off, to jointly develop innovative, light-curing resin systems for the hot lithography technology introduced by Cubicure.

In a further research cooperation, Evonik is working with the southern German company Voxeljet AG to create polymer powder-based material systems of the next generation for the scalable binder jetting process.

Evonik bundles its competencies in 3D printing in its Additive Manufacturing innovation growth field. 'Our strategic focus is on developing and manufacturing 'ready-to-use' high-performance materials to meet the requirements of major technology lines. Close cooperation with our customers and partners is a prerequisite for advancing innovations,' says Große-Puppendahl.

Learn more about the activities of Evonik Industries in the field of additive manufacturing at our tradeshow stand C71 in Hall 12.1 at formnext in Frankfurt/Main from November 19 to 22.

Further information:
  • Evonik at Formnext 2019
Company information

Evonik is one of the world leaders in specialty chemicals. The focus on more specialty businesses, customer-oriented innovative prowess and a trustful and performance-oriented corporate culture form the heart of Evonik's corporate strategy. They are the lever for profitable growth and a sustained increase in the value of the company. Evonik benefits specifically from its customer proximity and leading market positions. Evonik is active in over 100 countries around the world. In fiscal 2018, the enterprise with more than 32,000 employees generated sales of €13.3 billion and an operating profit (adjusted EBITDA) of €2.15 billion from continuing operations.

About Resource Efficiency

The Resource Efficiency segment is led by Evonik Resource Efficiency GmbH and produces high performance materials and specialty additives for environmentally friendly as well as energy-efficient systems to the automotive, paints & coatings, adhesives, construction, and many other industries. This segment employed about 10,000 employees, and generated sales of around €5.5 billion in 2018 from continuing operations.

Disclaimer

In so far as forecasts or expectations are expressed in this press release or where our statements concern the future, these forecasts, expectations or statements may involve known or unknown risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may vary, depending on changes in the operating environment. Neither Evonik Industries AG nor its group companies assume an obligation to update the forecasts, expectations or statements contained in this release.

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Evonik Industries AG published this content on 29 October 2019 and is solely responsible for the information contained therein. Distributed by Public, unedited and unaltered, on 29 October 2019 10:36:01 UTC