Composites Today

Magazine For Composites Professionals

Specialised low viscosity resins for additive manufacturing

Mechnano (USA), in partnership with Bomar (USA), has released the all-new T50B masterbatch, a specialized lower viscosity product aimed at Additive Manufacturing (AM) industry formulators. The Masterbatch uses Mechnano’s proprietary technology, known as D’Func™ (Discrete, Dispersed, and Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes), enabling the development of AM resins with enhanced mechanical properties and uniform electrical performance on a nano scale.

The T50B is a masterbatch with high CNT concentration and low viscosity, designed to seamlessly blend into resin formulas without the need for intensive shear mixing processes. The proprietary blend of Bomar resins used for the dispersion base enables a broad range of resin types and technologies, such as tough, flexible, and elastic AM resins suitable for Stereolithography (SLA), Digital Light Processing (DLP), or jetting print methodologies. The electric resistivity of the final formulation can be adjusted from 105-1010 Ω, making it an excellent choice for the development of low surface resistivity resins. Furthermore, incorporating the T50B into tough and flexible formulas has demonstrated enhancements in mechanical performance such as tensile strength and modulus.

“This new dispersion is exactly what the industry has been looking for – a versatile, highly concentrated dispersion that enables maximum formulation flexibility and provides excellent electrostatic discharge (ESD) properties, all while maintaining printability in UV-based print systems,” says David Robitaille, Global Brand Director for Bomar.

The T50B product offered by Mechnano incorporates their unique D’Func technology. This technology specifically targets the problem of clumped and roped carbon nanotubes (CNTs) present in materials with its primary objective to enhance both the mechanical and electrical performance of AM resins. By effectively eliminating these clumps and functionalizing CNTs, Mechnano ensures the stability of their CNT-based masterbatches. This element holds significant importance as clumped CNTs have been proven to adversely affect the mechanical properties of materials, resulting in subpar overall performance of the components. Mechnano constantly expands its range of products, and T50B can be obtained either directly from Mechnano or through their partner, Bomar.