Mechnano, an AM materials company, in partnership with Bomar, a producer of advanced performance oligomers and materials, has released the new T50B masterbatch, a specialized lower-viscosity product aimed at additive manufacturing industry formulators. The Masterbatch uses Mechnano’s proprietary technology, known as D’Func (Discrete, Dispersed, and Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes), to enable the development of AM resins with enhanced mechanical properties and uniform electrical performance on a nanoscale.
“Mechnano Research and Development teams continue to enhance our technologies and expand our product portfolio for the AM industry,” said Dr. Olga Ivanova, Director of Applications and Technology at Mechnano. “The initial feedback from beta-customers has been extremely positive, demonstrating enhanced mechanical performance, in addition to ESD capabilities.”
The T50B is a masterbatch with high carbon nanotube (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 SLA, 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 ESD properties, all while maintaining printability in UV-based print systems,” said David Robitaille, Global Brand Director at Bomar.
Mechnano’s unique D’Func technology specifically targets the problem of clumped and roped 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 its partner, Bomar.
