PRUSA Research – a leading European manufacturer of amateur 3D printers, has introduced a new technical filament: Prusament PA11 Carbon Fiber Black – polyamide (nylon) doped with carbon fiber. The material is dedicated to the production of applications used in the automotive sector, as well as perfect for 3D printing of durable mechanical parts used in home appliances.
PA11 is a type of polyamide mainly used in powder 3D printing technology – SLS. At the same time, it is rarely used to work in the FFF filament technology, in which Prusa specializes. The company points out that the commonly used polyamides PA6 and PA12 have a number of disadvantages – PA6 is extremely hydrophilic, which makes it extremely difficult to 3D print and in some cases can absorb too much moisture even during long prints. The second popular polyamide – PA12 is not so hygroscopic, but it warps a lot and adheres poorly to the standard PEI printing plate used by Prussia 3D printers.
PA11 is less hygroscopic and provides better adhesion to the PEI sheet. Thanks to the addition of carbon fiber, Prusament PA11 Carbon Fiber is almost warp-free.
Polyamide PA11 is made from castor oil and the carbon fibers are recycled. Probably the greatest advantage of the material is its resistance to high temperatures, which, depending on the load, is up to 190°C. This makes it ideal for printing special parts and housings, e.g. for heat emitting machines (motors etc.).
The second major advantage of PA11 (and polyamides in general) is its excellent chemical resistance to a number of solvents. PA11 has good resistance to alkali (e.g. NaOH), alcohols (methanol, ethanol), toluene, acetone, engine oil, gasoline, diesel etc. Additionally, Prusament PA11 Carbon Fiber has good friction and abrasion resistance, making it suitable for printing gears and other moving parts.
Unfortunately, like any technical material, working with it requires proper preparation. Due to the high printing temperatures, the company advises against using it on the Original Prusa MINI +. The material can be printed with the Original Prusa MK3S + and the new XL model. The nozzle must be steel – the standard one will wear out quickly due to the carbon fiber. Use a better pad for the table – Prusa offers a dedicated, double-sided powder-coated sheet made of spring steel. Even though PA11 is less hydrophobic than PA6, it still needs to be dried at 90°C for 4-6 hours before printing.
Source: www.prusa3d.com
Photo: www.prusa3d.com (press materials / all rights reserved)
