Essentium TPU 74D-Z ESD

Essentium is a manufacturer of industrial FDM 3D printing equipment and materials. Without a doubt, it stands out for its wide range of materials, offering specific solutions for specific applications in various sectors such as aeronautics, automotive or the energy sector.

One of the most outstanding families of filaments within Essentium's portfolio of materials is ESD filaments. Essentium offers a wide range of ESD materials, including flexible filaments developed for electrostatic discharge protection.

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) is the sudden transfer of electrical charge from one object to another. This charge transfer sometimes results in a visible and even audible spark. In an electronics manufacturing environment, such an event can cause catastrophic damage to sensitive electronic devices and integrated circuits. For this reason, it is necessary to minimise the risks by using ESD-safe materials such as 74D-ZESD TPU filament.

Video 1: Essentium Materials Guide: ESD. Source: Essentium.

Semi-rigid ESD material

TPU 74D-Z ESD filament has a shore hardness of 74D, the highest shore hardness among the flexible filaments offered by Essentium. This characteristic means that this material is considered to be semi-rigid.

Despite its stiffness, the 74D-Z ESD TPU filament inherits some of the most representative characteristics of its base material: TPU. TPU is a linear elastomeric polymer belonging to the polyurethane family. It is a flexible material, although it can offer varying degrees of hardness. For 3D printing, the hardness range of TPU-based materials is usually indicated by Shore A or Shore D scales.

In addition to the inherited characteristics of TPU, due to its composition developed for electrostatic discharge protection applications, TPU 74D-Z ESD filament has the following properties:

• Semi-rigidity
• Excellent impact resistance
• Good tensile strength
• Excellent tear resistance
• Abrasion and wear resistance
• Chemical, solvent, oil and ozone resistance

Multilayer filament

Typically, most ESD filaments contain relatively high percentages of carbon (15-25%), modifying the characteristics of the base polymer, potentially compromising its performance and leading to possible contact marks on other materials. Unlike these filaments, Essentium's ESD filaments are designed to provide the necessary surface resistance properties without compromising the performance of the base polymer, in this case TPU. In addition, 74D-Z ESD TPU is a clean material that does not leave marks on other contact parts.

Video 2: Characteristics of ESD filaments. Source: Essentium.

All this is achieved with a much lower percentage of carbon than other filaments, as little as 0.01%, thanks to the multi-layer technology developed by Essentium. This technology uses high purity carbon nanotubes combined with a proprietary extrusion process to produce a multilayer filament that concentrates the carbon nanotubes on the surface of the filament rather than throughout the volume of the material.

Image 2: Multi-layer technology developed by Essentium. Source: Essentium.

Demanding applications

For all its properties and characteristics, TPU 74D-Z ESD can be used as a substitute for ABS ESD, being a much easier filament to process, with less deformation and less tendency to warp.

This filament is ideal for the manufacture of end-use parts, allowing companies to manufacture components such as customised jigs and fixtures. This filament can also be very useful in the energy sector for the manufacture of components for power grid infrastructures. Another sector where this material stands out would be the aeronautical sector, where TPU 74D-Z ESD filament offers the possibility to manufacture ground support components.

Some concrete applications would be the following:

• Electronics manufacturing ESD safety inserts and devices
• Abrasion resistant housings
• Snap-on connectors
• Anti-vibration pads for heavy loads
• Impact resistant structural components

With its excellent mechanical properties, ESD properties and stiffness, TPU 74D-Z ESD filament is one of the most versatile filaments in Essentium's portfolio, making it an excellent choice for a variety of industry sectors.