Lubrizol Unveils New Thermoplastic Polyurethane Solution for HP Multi-Jet Fusion 3D Printing

Ohio (US): Lubrizol, an Ohio-based chemicals, and materials company, have created a unique Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) specifically for HP's Jet Fusion 5200 series. ESTANE 3D TPU M88A is a material that offers great longevity with design flexibility in the 3D printing process. It provides optimal performance during production cycles and minimizes manual labor thanks to its advanced features. Gert-Jan Nijhuis, Lubrizol's General Manager expressed his excitement stating: "The team has been working tirelessly with our partners to develop this new grade that can provide excellent flexibility, durability, aesthetics and design flexibility while ensuring operational efficiency."

The highly anticipated ESTANE 3D TPU M88A TPU was created through a collaboration between Lubrizol and HP as a certified HP materials partner. The new material is optimized for processing and unpacking in the industrial-grade Jet Fusion 5200 printers from HP which use the powder bed fusion technology.

This has been extensively tested and developed at Lubrizol’s Avid Product Development and Advanced Materials facilities, with beta partner Prototal AB also involved in the process. Upon its launch in the first quarter of 2023, businesses that specialize in additive manufacturing will be able to take advantage of HP’s enhanced 3D printing technology efficiently target a wide range of final parts. Compared to existing Lubrizol TPU on the market, ESTANE 3D TPU M88A will be able to achieve 45% faster printing speeds thereby allowing users to swiftly unpack applications at room temperature while benefitting from enhanced production flexibility thanks to its versatile nature.

ESTANE 3D M88A is a revolutionary TPU that offers the ability to create softer lattice designs which can be dyed in a whole range of colors instead of being coated, resulting in brighter and more vivid colors than other TPU parts. The material is useful for producing prosthetics and orthotics as well as numerous consumer, industrial, and automotive applications with several customization options.

Lubrizol's General Manager expressed how the company has been at the forefront of innovation in additive manufacturing, providing customers with end-to-end solutions from prototyping to mass production. “Our expertise combined with our 3D printing capabilities enable us to turn customers’ visions into new products” said General Manager for Lubrizol.

In July 2020, Dye Mansion launched their 17 new colors specifically designed for post-processing grey HP MJF parts made of Polyamide 12 (PA12). The vibrant range opened up numerous possibilities for 3D printed grey parts and prior to its release customers with an HP Jet Fusion 4200 or 5200 system were invited to test the range through a beta program.

Materialize, a renowned software and 3D printing service provider based in Belgium recently made an announcement regarding the addition of the Ultrasint TPU 01 from German chemical company BASF to its selection of 3D printing materials.

This new material is ideal for use with HP’s Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) 5200 Series of 3D printers and materialize will be the first to offer this TPU powder via its online platforms Materialize onsite and immaterialize, as well as through its offline prototyping and manufacturing services. Pieter Vos, Marketing Director at Materialize Manufacturing highlighted how the company has remained committed to providing customers access to the latest and most innovative products, technologies, and manufacturing infrastructure “for nearly three decades”.