

The Filaflex Purifier is a thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) filament capable of absorbing and purifying the environment, neutralising CO2, NOX and volatile organic compounds, converting these harmful particles into mineral gases.
This elastic TPE filament was developed by Recreus, a company specialised in the 3D printing sector, founded in 2011 and supported by Repsol to develop and innovate products for 3D printing.
TPE is a thermoplastic material combined with rubber and additives. Filaflex Purifier is an odourless thermoplastic elastomer-based filament with added silicon oxide, aluminium oxide, iron(III) oxide, iron(II) oxide, magnesium oxide, calcium oxide and titanium oxide. The addition of these compounds results in an elastic filament capable of purifying the air by reducing environmentally harmful particles and helping to reduce the greenhouse effect, as well as being a recyclable material that maintains all its properties after recycling.
Recreus Filaflex Purifier is a thermoplastic elastomer filament that maintains the characteristic quality of Filaflex filaments. With this new filament, elastic parts can be made that also purify the air that comes into contact with the material, absorbing particles of CO2, NOx and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
One of the applications in which this filament could be implemented would be in the manufacture of air filters or parts that are in contact with the air in which the elasticity of the material is necessary.
Thus, with Recreus' new product, it is possible to create pieces that help to improve the environment and enhance the surroundings without losing the facilities and qualities provided by Recreus' Filaflex Purifier.
General information |
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Material | TPU/TPE |
Format | 50 g / 500 g |
Density | (ISO 1183) 1.17 g/cm³ |
Filament diameter | 1.75 / 2.85 mm |
Filament tolerance | ± 0.05 mm |
Filament length | (Ø 1.75 mm-0.5 kg) ±177 m / (Ø 2.85 mm-0.5 kg) ±67 m |
Printing properties |
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Printing temperature | 215 - 250 ºC |
Print bed temperature | 50 ºC |
Chamber temperature | - |
Cooling fan | ✓ |
Recommended printing speed | 20 - 60 mm/s |
Mechanical properties |
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Elongation at break | (DIN 53504-S2) 617 % |
Tensile strength | (DIN 53504-S2) 43 MPa |
Tensile modulus | (ISO 527) 20 MPa |
Flexural strength | - MPa |
Flexural modulus | - MPa |
Surface hardness | (ISO 7619-1) Shore 82A |
Impact strength | 580 KJ/m² |
Electrical properties |
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Volumetric resistivity | (IEC 62631-2-1) 1.00E+10 Ohm*m |
Thermal properties |
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Melting temperature | 220 ºC |
Softening temperature | 113 ºC |
Specific properties |
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Transparency | - |
Flammability classification | (UL94) HB |
Other |
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HS Code | 3916.9 |
Spool diameter (outer) | 200 mm |
Spool diameter (inner hole) | 53 mm |
Spool width | 50 mm |
When printing a flexible material, it must be taken into account that it can generate certain problems that we will try to solve and avoid in the following lines:
The easiest way to achieve to work this filament is with a direct extruder, since if we use a Bowden type system it is more complicated. In case of using a Bowden system, it is recommended to use a wire diameter of 2.85 mm to try to reduce the possibility of clogging. Another improvement that could be implemented would be the substitution of the guide tube for a PTFE tube such as the Capricorn XS, which would make the filament fit better, thus reducing friction.
Recreus recommends a printing temperature of 215 - 250 °C with a maximum speed of 60 mm/s. The brand itself indicates that a heated bed is not necessary for correct printing as it adheres well to the bed without the need for any additional adhesive. With regard to shrinkage, if jamming occurs in the extruder it should be deactivated and if printing at a speed of 40mm/s a shrinkage distance of 4 - 6mm is recommended. Finally, the manufacturer recommends to increase the flow if the printing is intermittent (between 105% - 115%) and to avoid filament throttling and clogging, the extruder pressure that presses the filament on the motor pulley should be reduced.
As the user gains experience with the Filaflex Purifier he can increase the speed and decrease the printing temperature to achieve a high quality finish. It is necessary to use a coating fan, as this material is quite liquid when it melts. As far as the layer height is concerned, it does not affect the adhesion between layers (ideally between 0.1 and 0.25 mm).
The last recommendation proposed would be the use of a filament dryer such as PrintDry Pro, as a filament that is in poor condition due to moisture absorption in addition to generating problems in the nozzle, would generate a loss in thermal and chemical resistance and creation of bubbles in the printed piece. Drying at a temperature of 50 °C for at least 4 h is recommended.