Materials are key to the success of additive manufacturing whether it is for prototyping or production. In 2019, a number of companies announced partnerships to develop more materials for AM. And some of those materials are emerging. Here’s a look.

For pellet users

DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers, launched six new Zytel polyamide and Hytrel thermoplastic polyester elastomer (TPC-ET) pellets and two new Hytrel filaments.
The pelletized materials for pellet extrusion allow customers to switch seamlessly from prototyping to small-series, pre-series and mass production—while maintaining similar polymer properties. The pellets and filaments offer a range of hardnesses, fiber reinforcement options, and colors.

Users can create prototypes with fused layer modeling and final parts with pellet extrusion modeling – or even injection molding for very high volumes – while maintaining consistent properties.

Zytel is a glass fiber-reinforced, carbon fiber-reinforced and unreinforced grades of polyamide (PA) pellets. Zytel pellets and filaments deliver a balance of strength and stiffness as well as ultra-low shrinkage and warpage for strong, rigid, functional parts. They also provide heat and chemical resistance and lower moisture absorption than PA6 copolyamide, for less variability during printing operations and better retention of properties. The properties of Zytel pellets and filaments are similar to those of Zytel materials used in injection molding.

DuPont’s glass fiber-reinforced grades feature a heat deflection temperature (HDT) greater than 150°C, good surface finish and resistance to common solvents and chemicals. The additions to DuPont’s portfolio are:
• Zytel 3D12G30PT Pellets with 30% glass fiber reinforcement (black)
• Zytel 3D12G50PT Pellets with 50% glass fiber reinforcement (black)

DuPont’s carbon fiber-reinforced grades are light and strong, making them suitable for demanding structural applications in aerospace and automotive. Zytel carbon fiber-reinforced materials offer good surface finish, an HDT greater than 150°C and chemical resistance. DuPont’s newest product offering is:
• Zytel 3D10C20PT Pellets with 20% carbon fiber reinforcement (black)

DuPont’s unreinforced Zytel polyamide grades are suitable for functional 3D printed parts that require good aesthetics and elongation combined with low friction properties. These materials deliver strength and stiffness, good thermal properties (an HDT greater than 100°C) and the signature low shrinkage of all Zytel 3D printing grades for easy printing. DuPont’s new portfolio addition is:
• Zytel 3D1000PT Pellets (natural)

Hytrel TPC-ET is a versatile copolyester available in multiple hardnesses to meet different application requirements. This semi-crystalline material combines the flexibility of rubber with the strength and processability of thermoplastics. Its key properties are heat and chemical resistance, strength, resilience and durability. The low shrinkage of these specialty Hytrel TPC-ET grades makes them suitable for flexible parts.

These pellets and filaments deliver consistent mechanical properties in the X, Y and Z printing directions, low moisture sensitivity during printing, and retention of flexibility in the finished part. As with Zytel pellets and filaments, Hytrel TPC-ET properties are translatable to injection molding.

60 Shore D grades
• Hytrel 3D4100PT Pellets (natural)
• Hytrel 3D4100FL Filament (black)
40 Shore D grades
• Hytrel 3D4000PT Pellets (natural)
• Hytrel 3D4000FL Filament (black)

DuPont Transportation & Advanced Polymers
plastics.dupont.com