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Japan’s Polyplastics has developed 3D-printing technology for production of Duracon polyoxymethylene (POM) resin. The technology, known as Material Extrusion (MEX), reportedly delivers 3D-printed parts with physical properties close to those of injection molded parts. Polyplastics will highlight the new 3D-printing technology at K 2022, which runs Oct. 19 to 26 in Düsseldorf, Germany. The company will exhibit in booth B02 in hall 7A.

Typically, only amorphous resins or resins with low crystallinity, such as ABS and polyamide, have been compatible with the MEX 3D-printing process. POM’s high crystallinity and rapid rate of crystallization made it unsuitable. To address POM’s limitations, Polyplastics’ MEX 3D-printing technology combines a more appropriate selection of POM grades with printing conditions optimized for their crystallization behavior.

The MEX process can be applied in preliminary evaluations of physical properties, functions, durability, and other properties without the need for tooling, thus helping to accelerate product development. It can also be used for low-volume manufacturing of custom products. With filaments as the material input, the MEX method produces three-dimensional structures by repeatedly tracing and layering while depositing melted material extruded through a tiny nozzle.

Polyplastics is seeking a patent for the Duracon POM 3D-printing technology. At the same time, the company is developing additional Duracon POM filament materials for use in 3D printing, including reinforced grades.

The company is accepting requests for product trial samples.