3D Printing
Nature looks at greenhouse gases, like atmospheric carbon, as a feedstock, a raw material. It’s what trees, plants, or coral reefs are made from. At NatureWorks, we like to say that Mother Nature was the first to get into additive manufacturing. Now, using 3D filament made from Ingeo and the right 3D printer, you get to do the same thing.
Filament made from our specialized Ingeo PLA grades for 3D printing deliver properties and performance not found in other raw materials or PLAs.
3D Printing
Ingeo PLA Filament Performance
| Performance Requirement | Market Expectation | Ingeo Performance | ABS Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Temperature in printing | Lower is better for safety and control | 190-230°C possible, sharp melting behavior | 230-250°C |
| Vapor or odor in printing, EH&S | Low or no emissions / smell, small particulates | Very low emissions & studies show lower particulate count | Strong negative odor and higher particulate count |
| Heated build chamber | Ideally not required & IP limits implementation for some users | Does not require heated build chamber, but opportunity to leverage | Required to avoid warping while mfg. larger parts |
| Fusing performance | Fuses easily, sticks to self and build chamber | Good fusing and build platform adhesion | Difficult to stick to certain build platforms |
| Thermal shrinkage | Low shrinkage | Excellent, low shrink | Warps on larger builds |
Low Carbon Footprint
Made from greenhouse gases, Ingeo has a very low carbon footprint.
Ingeo in Use
We 3D printed an impeller on our new Ultimaker machine with Ingeo™ 3D870 PLA filament and the new Ingeo™ 3D450 break-away support.
Ingeo PLA for SLS Printing
NatureWorks and Jabil collaborated to offer PLA-based powder optimized for powder-bed fusion technologies. The new product, PLA 3110P, offers a cost-effective option with a lower sintering temperature and a smaller carbon footprint compared to a typical incumbent.
Large Format Printing
Designed specifically for large format printing, Ingeo 3D700 delivers significant reduction in warping and improved interlayer adhesion, leading to minimized print failures. Optimized melt viscosity and microstructure allow for high throughput at a lower print temperature.Relevant Technical Documents
- 3D450 TDS (Break-away support grade)
- 3D700 TDS (Large format additive manufacturing)
- 3D850 TDS (Optimized for 3D with excellent clarity faster crystallization, improved heat resistance)
- 3D870 TDS (Optimized for 3D industrial applications with superior heat resistance & impact strength)
- 4043D TDS (General Purpose Grade)