KARAKSA™ F BX102

Polyamide is a widely used material in industrial 3D printing due to its balanced mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties. However, conventional polyamides face clear limitations during printing, such as significant warping, stringing tendencies, and poor bridging and overhang performance, which affect both the final quality and design freedom.

Traditional fiber-reinforced solutions using carbon or glass fibers improve stiffness and reduce deformation, but come at the cost of a rough surface finish, increased equipment wear, and limitations when using small nozzles, restricting resolution and detail.

KARAKSA™ F BX102 has been developed to overcome these trade-offs, offering a reinforced material that maintains excellent printability, a smooth surface finish, and high dimensional stability without the common drawbacks of conventional fiber reinforcements.

CNF Technology: Efficient Reinforcement Without Compromise

BX102 incorporates 5% high-temperature-resistant cellulose nanofibers (CNF) developed by Asahi Kasei. These nanofibers disperse extremely evenly throughout the polymer matrix, forming a continuous three-dimensional network that reinforces the material at the nanoscale.

Figure 1: Structure of Asahi Kasei cellulose nanofibers. Source: Asahi Kasei

This internal structure not only improves mechanical properties but also actively influences the material’s behavior during printing, reducing internal stresses and enhancing layer adhesion.

Thixotropic Behavior and Geometric Control

Thanks to its internal structure, KARAKSA™ F BX102 exhibits thixotropic behavior that is especially beneficial for FFF printing. The material flows easily through the nozzle and quickly increases in viscosity once deposited, maintaining the defined geometry. This enables stable bridging, well-controlled overhangs, and accurately reproduced sloped surfaces, even in complex geometries.

Figure 2: Comparison of viscosity vs. shear stress for polyamide reinforced with CF and CNF. Source: Asahi Kasei

Dimensional Stability and Aesthetic Quality

While prioritizing flexibility and surface quality, BX102 maintains excellent dimensional stability and high thermal resistance. Reduced warping and thermal shrinkage allow for precise parts, consistent repeatability, and less need for post-processing, even in larger prints.

Surface Finish and Equipment Care

One of the standout features of KARAKSA™ F BX102 is its smooth and uniform surface finish, comparable to fiber-free polyamide and far superior to CF or GF nylons. This makes it an ideal choice for visible parts, functional components, and applications where aesthetics matter.

The cellulose nanofibers, being softer than conventional fibers, significantly reduce nozzle and hotend wear. Hardened nozzles are not required, and printing with nozzles as small as 0.2 mm is possible, achieving a high level of detail.

Figure 3: Detail resolution comparison using different nozzle diameters in Karaksa F prints. Source: Asahi Kasei

Flexibility, Strength, and Smooth Movement

BX102 maintains an excellent balance between stiffness and flexibility, avoiding the brittleness often seen in some fiber-reinforced polyamides. Its strong interlayer adhesion provides good interlaminar strength, while its low friction properties make it suitable for hinges, articulated components, and moving parts printed directly.

Figure 4: Parts printed with Karaksa F retain the characteristic flexibility of polyamide, in contrast to carbon or glass fiber-reinforced materials. Source: Asahi Kasei

Within the KARAKSA™ F range, BX102 is designed for applications seeking a balance between mechanical performance, durability, and aesthetics, while the DX101 version (7% CNF) is focused on maximum technical performance, dimensional stability, and thermal resistance for structural and industrial applications.

Important Notice: The following activities are strictly prohibited:

• Using this material for illegal activities or purposes.
• Using this material for manufacturing medical devices.
• Using this material for producing any device intended to contact mucous membranes, bodily fluids, blood, or medications.
• Using this material for military purposes, including but not limited to the development, manufacture, use, or storage of weapons or other military equipment.
• Using this material for producing devices or products intended to contact food or beverages.