Flexfill TPE 96A

Fillamentum

New product

14 Items

29,75 €
29,75 €

Ask for information

Semi-flexible Shore 96A hardness filament with high chemical resistance and a matt and soft finish.

Flexfill TPE (thermoplastic elastomer) is a highly flexible 3D printing filament, unique in its properties compared to TPU materials. It is a high quality 3D printing material with very good printing, surface and mechanical properties. It has two types of hardness, 90A and 96A, and constitutes a great bet of Fillamentum to expand the possibilities in the market of flexible filaments.

Unlike the Flexfill TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), which has a glossy finish, the TPE has a matt and soft finish, which is pleasing to the touch and not sticky, which helps to achieve a perfect finish, dirt resistant and washable.

Piece printed with Flexfill TPE 96A Light Gray

Image 1: Piece printed with Flexfill TPE 96A Light Gray. Source: Fillamentum

The first difference that exists compared to other flexible filaments is their chemical resistance, which achieves a high resistance against a wide range of substances such as water, acids, alkalis or alcohols even at high temperatures. In addition, it is abrasion resistant, has a low degree of moisture absorption and very low gas permeability.

It has a good quality thanks to maintaining its dimensional stability with a high adhesion between layers, which gives it a great resistance to tearing and a low chain that gives it that matte finish.

It is a recyclable filament, which practically does not give off odors and is free of Bisphenol A (BPA). It contains no restricted substances, and is safe for food contact applications (although it is not FDA certified, as it does have TPE 90A), with the skin or with the mucous membrane. It is also a material that can be used for the production of electrical and electronic equipment.

In addition, the base polymer in the case of TPE are polyolefins, instead of TPU polyurethane. This involves different properties, which are summarized below in the comparison table between the different materials with some flexibility that exist.

TPE 70A 
Filaflex
TPE 82A 
Filaflex
TPE 90A 
Flexfill
TPU 92A 
Flexfill
TPU 93A
Smartfil
TPE 96A 
Flexfill
TPU 98A 
Flexfill
Tensile strength
(MPa)
32 45 5 49 40 5 53.7
Elongation at break 900 % 600 % 250 % - - 150 % 318 %
Absorción 
humedad
-
Chemical resistance Solvent Acetone
Fuel
Solvent Acetone
Fuel
Water
Acid
Alcohol
Alkali
Polish
Oil
Polish
Oil
Solvent
Water
Acid
Alcohol
Alkali 
Polish
Oil
Contact food and skin Not recommend. Not recommend. Certificate Not recommend. Not recommend. Reliable Not recommend.
Permeability gases -

Table 1: Comparison of properties of the flexible filament range

On a theoretical level, it is determined that the TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) is obtained thanks to the modification of a TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer), resulting in a material with less flexibility. For practical purposes, however, two types of materials are considered as totally independent today. Until now, the differentiation rule was established, which evidenced that a TPE was always flexible, and a semi-flexible or rigid TPU. Today, this differentiation has become meaningless due to the great development of variants in TPE and TPU materials, and very flexible TPE filaments (with Shore hardness 70A, 82A and 90A) and semi-flexible as 96A are found.

Therefore, when defining what material is needed for an application with a material with a certain flexibility, it will be necessary to analyze the sum of two totally different vectors from which will result the correct choice or resulting vector. On the one hand, the hardness of the material itself (normally compared on a Shore A scale) and, on the other, the type of material (TPE or TPU), with differences in its intrinsic properties.

The printing of very flexible materials is essential to be done with a direct extrusion system, although in some cases it could be with a bowden system if the filament was 2.85 mm. Instead, filaments such as TPU 92A, 93A and 98A or TPE 96A can be printed on any extrusion system (bowden or direct) and on any diameter (1.75 mm or 2.85 mm).

Pieces printed with Flexfill TPE 96A Light Gray, Sky Blue and Signal Red

Image 2: Pieces printed with Flexfill TPE 96A Light Gray, Sky Blue and Signal Red. Source: Fillamentum

After several months of intensive testing, Fillamentum has determined that both the TPE 90A and the TPE 96A will only be manufactured in 1.75 mm diameter to ensure maximum printing success (both with direct extruder and bowden), since the bowden extruder tests in 2.85 mm did not achieve completely successful results due to the intrinsic properties of the material, as there were non-reversible deformations.

Elongation at break (%) 150
Tensile strength (MPa) 5
Surface hardness 6
Flexibility Flexibility
Abrasion resistance Abrasion resistance
Vibration resistance Vibration resistance
Moisture resistance Moisture resistance
Chemical resistance Chemical resistance
Alimentary use Alimentary use
Hide color variations (Hide color variations)

Adhesion

To achieve perfect adhesion, it is advisable to use Magigoo PP when making 3D printing.

Bridges and overhangs

Cantilevers are easier to print. Bridges can be more complicated, so it is advisable to use supports to achieve a better finish.

Speed of the printing

Being a flexible material, it is very important to print at low speed to avoid problems during 3D printing (jams in the extruder, etc.).

Storing

  • Airtight bag with desiccant.
  • For perfect top/bottom surface, we recommend use 1.1 extrusion multiplier to ensure connection betweentop/bottom infill.
  • It is possible to achieve different hardness of printed object. Settings of infill andperimeters influences thefinal properties.

Adhesion

To achieve perfect adhesion, it is advisable to use Magigoo PP when making 3D printing.

Bridges and overhangs

Cantilevers are easier to print. Bridges can be more complicated, so it is advisable to use supports to achieve a better finish.

Speed of the printing

Being a flexible material, it is very important to print at low speed to avoid problems during 3D printing (jams in the extruder, etc.).

Storing

  • Airtight bag with desiccant.
  • For perfect top/bottom surface, we recommend use 1.1 extrusion multiplier to ensure connection betweentop/bottom infill.
  • It is possible to achieve different hardness of printed object. Settings of infill andperimeters influences thefinal properties.
General information
Manufacturer Fillamentum (Czech Republic)
Material TPE Flexfill 96A (thermoplastic elastomer)
Format Spool of 500 g
Density 1.15 g/cm3
Diameter of filament 1.75 mm
Diameter tolerance ±0,10 mm
Filament length ±180 m
Color Natural
Signal Red
Sky Blue
Light Grey
Traffic Black
RAL/Pantone -
Print settings
Printing temperature 225 - 245 ºC
Print bed temperature 50 - 60 ºC
Chamber temperature Not necessary
Cooling fan Recommended
Recommended printing speed 15 - 25 mm/s
Mechanical properties
Izod impact strength  -
Charpy impact strength -
Elongation at break > 150 %
Tensile strength > 5 MPa
Tensile Modulus  -
Flexural strength -
Flexural modulus -
Surface hardness Shore 96A / Shore 40D
Abrasion resistance -
Thermal properties
Softening temperature -
Melting temperature -
Specific properties
Transparency  -
Additional Information
HS Code 3916.9
Diameter coil (outer) 200 mm 
Diameter coil (inner hole) 55 mm 
Coil width 50 mm 


* The typical values detailed in this table should be considered as a reference. Actual values may vary depending on the 3D printer model used, part design and printing conditions. We recommend confirming the results and final properties with own tests. For more information you should consult the technical data sheet of the product.

General information
Manufacturer Fillamentum (Czech Republic)
Material TPE Flexfill 96A (thermoplastic elastomer)
Format Spool of 500 g
Density 1.15 g/cm3
Diameter of filament 1.75 mm
Diameter tolerance ±0,10 mm
Filament length ±180 m
Color Natural
Signal Red
Sky Blue
Light Grey
Traffic Black
RAL/Pantone -
Print settings
Printing temperature 225 - 245 ºC
Print bed temperature 50 - 60 ºC
Chamber temperature Not necessary
Cooling fan Recommended
Recommended printing speed 15 - 25 mm/s
Mechanical properties
Izod impact strength  -
Charpy impact strength -
Elongation at break > 150 %
Tensile strength > 5 MPa
Tensile Modulus  -
Flexural strength -
Flexural modulus -
Surface hardness Shore 96A / Shore 40D
Abrasion resistance -
Thermal properties
Softening temperature -
Melting temperature -
Specific properties
Transparency  -
Additional Information
HS Code 3916.9
Diameter coil (outer) 200 mm 
Diameter coil (inner hole) 55 mm 
Coil width 50 mm 


* The typical values detailed in this table should be considered as a reference. Actual values may vary depending on the 3D printer model used, part design and printing conditions. We recommend confirming the results and final properties with own tests. For more information you should consult the technical data sheet of the product.

30 other products in the same category: