G6-Impact™ Filament (HIPS-Carbon Fiber-Graphene)

G6-Impact ™ is an innovative 3D printing filament launched by Gaphene 3D Lab within its line of graphically functional FDM materials. G6-Impact™ filament is a composite consisting of a HiPS matrix with carbon fiber and graphene. In this way it has been possible to obtain a strong filament with a certain degree of flexibility and an exceptional performance in shock and vibration damping.

This new material for 3D printing FDM / FFF was born to occupy a gap that has not yet been found in industrial materials such as materials with high resilience and good cushioning or shock absorption. This unique property perfectly fills the niche where instant or catastrophic failure is not an option for security reasons. In addition its damping properties expand through a wide range of temperatures (from -40 °C to + 90 °C) making it ideal for extreme conditions.

The matrix of HiPS (Polystyrene) with Carbon Fiber and Graphene has made it possible to obtain a unique synergistic performance that extends the individual capacities of each one separately to the point of obtaining a material with an excellent vibration damping performance while maintaining the load capacity and high impact resistance.

The impact material G6-Impact™ is highly machinable as it can be drilled, cut, polished or screwed. Withstands a lot of impacts and deformations under pressure in a very similar way to metals before entering an instantaneous failure state. The G6-Impact ™ filament can be used as a protective material for other materials that exhibit delamination due to vibrations, thus improving the life of the resulting part.

Image 1: G6-Impact filament. 

With these properties the main applications for which the G6-Impact™ filament is used are the following:

Vibration damping and shock protection

Damping is the energy dissipation property of the material that reflects its ability to convert mechanical energy to thermal energy. The amount of energy dissipated is the measure of the damping capacity of the material. This ability of the G6-Impact™ is very beneficial to eliminate the noise of the structural, optical and electronic components. For example, it provides benefits on multiple everyday devices such as smartphones, cameras and laptops where interconnections can be destroyed or weakened by vibrations caused by internal moving parts or by external stress and shock. Likewise, G6-Impact ™ can be used for the stabilization of sensitive scientific instruments, optical media, microscopes and laser mounts.

Aeronautics, automotive, robotics and military

G6-Impact ™ 3D Printing Filament (HiPS, Carbon Fiber and Graphene) can reduce vibration in automotive, aerospace or drone parts and components and can be used as a base material for assemblies and cable platforms and equipment . G6-Impact ™ is also useful in industrial environments to reduce vibrations in bearings and structures. Thermoformed tiles can be used to reduce the noise and vibrations of heavy machinery, etc. It can also be used on tool handles, protective seals, mats and construction footwear.

After adding the nano-fill of Graphene and Carbon Fiber (20%) to the matrix of HiPS (Polystyrene) have made it possible to obtain an increase in the stiffness of the compound by 300% and the impact resistance by 100% in comparison with the original HiPS polymer matrix.