bioplasticsMAGAZINE_1406

3D printing
New high performance
PLA grades for 3D Printing
NatureWorks will introduce in 2015 new grades of high
performance Ingeo PLA specifically formulated for
professional and consumer 3D printing applications.
These new grades will make significant improvements to the
performance and heat resistance of 3D printed parts without
sacrificing the printability and user friendliness of PLA.
In the professional and consumer 3D printing market, ABS
and PLA are the preferred polymers in use. In professional
or production applications, the strength, flexibility,
machinability, and high temperature resistance make ABS a
top choice polymer. Unpleasant fumes when printing with ABS,
a tendency for warped parts during printing, high printing
temperatures, and the potential need for a heated print bed
or controlled-temperature build chamber are the most often
quoted negatives associated with ABS. PLA filament offers
excellent printing and fusing performance, a glossy appearance,
low odor and printing temperatures, a wide range of colors, and
renewably, rather than fossil, sourced feedstocks, all attributes
that have attracted users of desktop printers.
Upgrades to the Blair, Nebraska,
manufacturing facility bring new performance
characteristics to Ingeo
In 2013, NatureWorks completed a major upgrade at its Blair,
Nebraska, Ingeo manufacturing facility that not only increased
plant capacity, but also made it possible to polymerize new
high performance grades of PLA for durables, fibers, and
lactide intermediates. The new Ingeo durable grades allow
faster cycle times and production rates, a 10–15 °C (18–27 °F)
improvement in heat deformation temperature (HDT), and a
three-to-four fold increase in bulk crystallization rate.
Shortly after the new high performance Ingeo grades were
introduced, NatureWorks began market research aimed at
better understanding 3D printing applications and end-user
needs for customers ranging from professional users, to
prototypers, hobbyists, artists, schools, printer manufacturers
– and to the filament supply chain. NatureWorks purchased its
own printers, using them for filament testing and assessment
of the new Ingeo grades, and regularly using them at trade
shows for applications discussions with attendees.
It soon became clear that an optimized resin that rivals or
exceeds the performance and cost of ABS would be a market
winner if it were coupled with the right supply chain strategy.
NatureWorks intends to work closely with a limited number of
industry leaders per region to bring Ingeo filament to market
using its new grades.
According to Dan Sawyer, Segment Leader-New Business
Development, “We are often asked by users where we
recommend they buy PLA filament. Because filament quality
is essential to successful printing, NatureWorks is focused
on innovative Ingeo filament producers who have a strong
understanding of the gauge consistency and filament uniformity
necessary to print for hours or even days, without disruption.
We are carefully vetting filament producers that can deliver the
quality and growing demand for Ingeo-based PLA filament.”
The NatureWorks 3D resin grade and market development
team is excited about the growth opportunities for Ingeo and
building on the fact that PLA is the preferred material for 3D
printing by introducing advanced grades that satisfy a broader
application space. The quickly evolving state of the market
is reminiscent of a decade ago when bioplastics were first
introduced at a global commercial scale.
www.natureworksllc.com
By:
Leah Ford
New Markets Analyst
NatureWorks
Minnetonka, Minnesota, USA
26 bioplastics MAGAZINE [06/14] Vol. 9