Sydney-based manufacturer of PVC stabilisers, Chemson Pacific, has launched 3D Vinyl PVC, a ground-breaking invention which was 100 per cent conceived, developed and tested in Australia. It is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.
By pioneering a PVC formulation with true ‘thermoplastic’ 3D printing properties and specifically designed for use as a 3D printing filament feedstock, the Chemson invention significantly broadens the options available for users of 3D printing.
3D Vinyl stands to make a significant impact within the direct digital manufacturing market, as its unique qualities remove the constraints formerly imposed on the majority of accessible 3D printing platforms. The product will enable these systems to venture beyond the boundaries of rapid prototyping, allowing all users of 3D Vinyl to develop end-use parts and products in a variety of low-run production deployments.
Greg Harrison of Chemson Pacific said: “Chemson Pacific has pioneered 3D-Vinyl PVC to suit the polymer-based 3D-printing market segment, in order to introduce a more durable and sustainable alternative to the incumbent 3D-printing polymers now being actively commercialised.
"PVC has largely been over-looked as being suitable for 3D-printing and the successful performance of 3D Vinyl opens the way for PVC into the burgeoning world of advanced manufacture. It brings with it a number of sustainable attributes and physical properties such as inherent fire-retardancy, low-embodied energy and exterior durability characteristics and provides added value to the 3D-printing polymer market segment.”
AIO Robotics’ flagship 3D printer, the Zeus, was involved in testing the new PVC print medium, and as such is the world’s first 3D printer known to successfully print 3D models using PVC filament. The Zeus proved to be the most reliable, robust desktop machine during the test phase, proving capable of extruding the initial samples produced by the R&D team at Chemson Pacific.
Regional alliances with PVC industry leader Welvic, CSIRO and tertiary bodies will bring 3D Vinyl to market for the Australian, New Zealand and ASEAN markets. Additionally, a strategic partnership with Functionalize, the US-based leader in functional 3D printing materials, will co-develop conductive, electrostatic dissipative and other specialised formulations of 3D Vinyl, and expand its market reach in North America, Europe and beyond.
“3D Vinyl provides a strong, weatherable and durable alternative for conventional ABS use cases, while simultaneously expanding the materials options for the vast market of PLA-only printers,” said Michael Toutonghi, CEO of Functionalize. “We’re excited to partner with Chemson Pacific on commercialisation and distribution of this important new material, and we look forward to functionalising it for a broad range of manufacturing and maker applications.”
“3D Printing is currently one of the fastest growing, value-adding industries internationally and will be an important source of mentally-stimulating career paths and new business growth for the future,” said Dennis Planner of Chemson Pacific. “3D Vinyl brings a new era for the PVC industry and advanced manufacturing, here in Australia and worldwide."