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17-4 stainless steel Filamet™ pellets

Ref.: TVF-PELLETS-17-4-1KG

291.80 €

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Filamet™ 17-4 stainless steel pellets are small cylinders composed of PLA filled with 17-4 stainless steel. These pellets are composed of 85% metal and the rest PLA.

PLA (polylactic acid) is a biodegradable plastic obtained from natural resources such as starch extracted from corn, sugar beet and wheat. PLA is one of the most widely used materials in 3D printing today because it does not give off harmful gases and is easy to print.

17-4 stainless steel is characterised by very good corrosion resistance and high wear resistance. Due to this and its good mechanical properties, this material is used in the naval sector, the chemical industry, the wood industry, the oil industry or the aerospace industry, among others.

In addition to the intrinsic properties of 17-4 Stainless Steel, 17-4 Filamet™ stainless steel pellets from The Virtual Foundry (TVF) are perfect for 3D printing, achieving high print quality, and stand out from other metal-filled materials by allowing the user to obtain all-metal parts after a sintering process.

During the sintering process the PLA is removed, resulting in fully metallic parts with the real properties of metal, but with some porosity and a reduction in volume due to the loss of PLA.

Filamet™ 17-4 stainless steel pellets are free of exposed metal particles and volatile solvents that may be released during the 3D printing process, making it a safe material for 3D printing. In addition, due to their PLA content, they are very easy to process. There are several methods for using pellets in 3D printing:

Filamet™ 17-4 stainless steel pellets can be used in the manufacture of filament for FDM 3D printers using Filastruder or any other filament extruder.
It is possible to use a pellet extruder directly.

When using 17-4 Filamet™ stainless steel pellets to manufacture filament with a filament extruder such as Filastruder or using a pellet extruder for direct 3D printing, it should be noted that the extrusion temperature must be regulated in relation to the extrusion speed used. For optimal results, it is recommended to read the product's usage tips.

General information
Material	Metal + binder
Format	1 kg
Density	3 g/cm³
Amount of filler (mass)	85 %

Thermal properties
Melting temperature	- ºC
Softening temperature	- ºC
Processing temperature	225 ºC
MFR Ratio	-
Glass transition temperature	40-50 ºC
Heat deflexion temperature	- ºC

Sintering properties
Container	Refractory crucible
Refractory powder	Sapphire3D Steel Blend
Maximum temperature	1232 ºC

Specific properties
Transparency	-

Other
HS Code	7205.21

Due to the high amount of metal particles, clogging may occur in nozzles with a diameter of 0.4 mm, so it is recommended to use nozzles with an outlet diameter of more than 0.5 mm.

As far as infill, the average recommended amount is 30-70 % but it largely depends on what kind of part the user wants to obtain and whether the part will be sintered or not. For more indepth information please watch this video:

Video 1: The recommended infill for the TVF materials. Source: TVF.

It is very important to store 17-4 Filamet™ stainless steel pellets in an airtight bag to prevent them from absorbing moisture from the environment before use. If the pellets have moisture in them, the filament to be manufactured may contain small imperfections.

Once the filament has been manufactured using 17-4 Filamet™ stainless steel pellets, it is also recommended to store the filament in a dry place or in an airtight bag. This prevents the filament from absorbing moisture, thus achieving better results during 3D printing.

Whether using a filament extruder such as Filastruder or a direct pellet extruder, parts 3D printed with 17-4 Filamet™ stainless steel pellets must undergo a sintering process to achieve fully metallic parts.

Sintering process

Materials required:

Metallurgical furnace.
Refractory crucible
Refractory powder
Sintering coal

Step 1: Placement of the part

Fill the crucible with refractory powder leaving 40 mm free on the surface of the crucible.
Immerse the workpiece in the refractory powder making sure to leave a clearance of at least 15 mm between the surface of the workpiece and the walls and top and bottom of the crucible. Do not compact the refractory powder.
Fill the 40 mm free space on the surface of the crucible with sintering charcoal.
Place the crucible in the furnace.

Step 2: Thermal Debind

Heat up to 204 ºC.
Hold at 204 ºC for 2 hours.
Heat to 427 ºC at a rate of 1.86 ºC/min.
Hold at 427 ºC for 2 hours.

Step 3: Sintering

Heat up to 593 ºC at a rate of 1.86 ºC/min.
Hold at 593 ºC for 2 h.
Heat up to 1232 ºC at a rate of 5.5 ºC/min.
Hold at 1232 ºC for 4 hours*.

Step 4: Cooling

Cool to 593 ºC at a rate of 0.18 ºC/min.
Allow to cool to room temperature.

* Recommended time for a cube up to 50mm. For larger parts it will be necessary to increase the time.

Users who do not have a furnace with the necessary properties to sinter the parts printed with Filamet™ 17-4 stainless steel pellets and achieve the final properties of this metal, can contact us and we will assess their viability through our collaborators with the capacity to carry out the post-processing necessary to obtain the desired final result.