PPS with carbon fiber (PPS CF)

Treed Filaments is an Italian company dedicated to the manufacture of products for FDM/FFF 3D printing. This manufacturer has a wide range of filaments aimed at different sectors, including technical filaments. Within this category we can find PPS Carbon.

PPS Carbon is a thermoplastic composed of a polyphenylene sulphide base with 15% carbon fibre added.

PPS, polyphenylene sulphide, is a high performance, semi-crystalline engineering plastic consisting of aromatic rings bonded together by sulphides. PPS has high temperature performance and high mechanical and chemical resistance, making it an alternative to a metallic material.

Image 1: Chemical formula of polyphenylene sulphide. Source: Resinex.

The most characteristic properties of PPS are:

• High service temperature (between 220 - 250 ºC).
• High temperature resistance at specific times up to 270 ºC.
• Very high chemical resistance (insoluble in all solvents below 200 ºC).
• High mechanical strength, rigidity and hardness (even at high temperatures).
• Low water absorption.
• Good flame retardant properties (UL94 V-0 classification).
• Good dielectric properties and suitable for electrical insulation.

Image 2: Piece printed with PPS Carbon. Source: Treed Filaments.

The carbon fibre filler makes this filament an ultra-performance, lightweight and versatile material that does not deform at high temperatures, improving the mechanical and chemical properties of the base material.

Applications

PPS carbon stands out for its electrical insulating properties. This quality, together with its high resistance to high temperatures and the fact that it is a flame retardant material, make it an ideal material for the production of:

• Electronic or electrical components such as relays.
• Coating housings for automotive batteries.

On the other hand, in the automotive sector there are certain parts of combustion engines that are in continuous contact with corrosive fluids that vary in temperature and pressure. PPS Carbon is a material that meets the necessary requirements for the manufacture of these types of parts.

Most of the professional FDM 3D printers on the market do not have a heated chamber, or have a passive heated chamber, which creates a limitation in the use of advanced filaments. PPS Carbon breaks this limitation, allowing the user to print parts with advanced properties without the need for an industrial 3D printer.