3DXSTAT ESD FLEX TPU

While electrostatic discharge is a fairly harmless phenomenon for humans in day to day life, it can have dire consequences for electronics, and pose an even higher threat in environments with potentially explosive atmospheres. Plastic is naturally insulating, which is why there are numerous ESD safe filaments available on the market, created by modifying a polymer to have electrically conductive and thus dissipative properties. One of them is the 3DXStat Flex TPU filament by 3DXtech, a renowned North American manufacturer of technical filaments for advanced applications.

The most distinguishing features of the 3DXStat Flex TPU filament are its excellent flexibility, its ESD-safety properties, ease of printing, chemical resistance, and toughness. The filament is reinforced with 10 % of carbon fiber, has a UL94 HB flame rating, and its surface resistance is consistent between 10^7-10^9 Ohm. Moreover, this filament is characterized by an improved retention of impact and elongation, low particulate contamination, and minimal contribution to outgassing and ionic contamination.

The recommended extrusion temperature for the 3DXStat Flex TPU filament is 260 ºC. Nevertheless, studies conducted by 3DXTech have shown that increasing the extrusion temperature can heighten the levels of conductivity and surface resistance of the part 3D printed with the 3DXStat Flex TPU filament. Similarly, the lower the extrusion temperatures, the more insulating the part will be. This effect, however, will largely depend on the 3D printer properties and the geometry of the part, so the user is encouraged to experiment with extrusion temperatures.

The 3DXStat Flex filament is a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) based material. TPU is a thermoplastic elastomer whose most unique feature is the fact that it is made up of alternating hard and soft segments. Those segments can be altered to make the material harder or softer. The 3DXStat Flex TPU has a Shore hardness of 90-95A, which puts it on the semi-flex (semi-rigid) end of the hardness spectrum, comparable to the hardness of a shopping cart wheel. Some other benefits that TPU gives to the 3DXStat filament are very high elongation at break (300 %), flexibility even at low temperatures, great resistance to fatigue, resistance to abrasion and chemicals (strengthened by the addition of the carbon fiber) and low moisture absorption. This filament prints easily, with excellent layer binding and very low odor.

Thanks to the unique features yielded by the TPU base and the antistatic properties, the 3DXStat Flex TPU filament is ideal for applications where flexible and ESD safe tools and fixtures are needed. It can be used to manufacture semi conductive parts such as hard disk drive components, jigs, casings, connectors, or components for wafer handling. Some industrial applications include conveying, metering, and sensing applications. The ease and safety of printing make it perfect for not only professional industrial applications but also for hobbyist 3D printing in home conditions.