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Flexible conductive filament Fili

Ref.: AIMPLAS-TPU-FILI-175-500

84.90 €

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Plastic is a material that by nature is rather rigid and it has insulating properties, which means it does not conduct electricity or it does it poorly. While in certain circumstances these qualities are practical and desired, sometimes a flexible filament that can conduct electricity is needed.

Just a few years ago the first flexible conductive material by Graphene 3D Labs revolutionized the 3D printing market and since then the catalog of filaments with these properties has been growing fast. This year there has been a new addition to the portfolio of flexible and conductive 3D printing materials - Fili. The Fili filament is a material created by the AIMPLAS Technological Institute of Plastics, a company with more than 30 years of experience in the plastics industry, in collaboration with Filament2Print.

A lamp base and conductive tweezers 3D printed with the Fili filament

Image 1: A lamp base and conductive tweezers 3D printed with the Fili filament. Source: Filament2Print.

The Fili filament is a TPU based flexible material with a 27.44 Ohm/cm volume resistivity. The filament itself is flexible and does not break when handled. When extruded it shows no signs of retraction and it maintains a homogeneous diameter.

The AIMPLAS Fili conductive flexible filament

Image 2: The AIMPLAS Fili conductive flexible filament. Source: Filament2Print.

As tests conducted at Filament2Print have shown, parts produced with the Fili filament have an excellent surface finish and even exhibit anti scratch behavior similar to graphite.

A test of electrical resistivity on a part 3D printed with the Fili filament

Image 3: A test of electrical resistivity on a part 3D printed with the Fili filament. Source: Filament2Print.

Mechanical tests have demonstrated that parts 3D printed with the Fili conductive filament are flexible and slightly ductile. The conductivity of the Fili filament is slightly lower than with graphene based materials but higher than carbon based conductive filaments (carbon black, carbon fibers, etc.).

Video 1: Flexible conductive tweezers 3D printed with the Fili filament. Source: Filament2Print.

The base of the Fili conductive filament is TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) - a flexible linear thermoplastic elastomer generally known for its flexibility (even at low temperatures), chemical and abrasion resistance, resistance to UV rays, and its versatility in terms of hardness, easily modifiable by adjusting the ratio of the soft and hard segments in TPU’s structure. Thanks to these properties, TPU is a material widely used across sectors, including the automotive industry, medicine, electronics and even the textile industry.

Video 2: A lamp with the base 3D printed with the Fili filament. Source: Filament2Print.

Since plastic is an insulating material by nature, conductivity has to be created by adding a conductive additive into the base polymer, in the case of the Fili filament, TPU. The resulting compound will have conductive properties. This, in combination with the flexibility offered by TPU, will create a material that can be used to make semiconductor parts, capacitive sensors or even metal substitutes, which offers a significant weight advantage in sectors such as the automotive or aerospace industry.

The combination of flexibility and conductivity makes it possible to use the AIMPLAS Fili filament in applications where the 3D printed part has to endure mechanical stress or adjust its shape while still maintaining its electrical properties. This opens up a world of possibilities for low cost, light and versatile experimental electronics applications such as wearable portable sensors, flexible supercapacitors or even flexible electronic skin for medical applications.

General information
Material	TPU/TPE
Format	0.5 / 1 kg
Density	- g/cm³
Filament diameter	1.75 / 2.85 mm
Filament tolerance	- mm
Filament length	-

Electrical properties
Volumetric resistivity	27.44 Ω/cm

Printing properties
Printing temperature	250 - 260 ºC
Print bed temperature	40 ºC
Chamber temperature	-
Cooling fan	-
Recommended printing speed	40 - 60 mm/s
Recommended nozzle diameter	0.4 mm

Mechanical properties
Elongation at break	(ISO 527) 7.4 %
Tensile strength	(ISO 527) 9.56 MPa
Tensile modulus	(ISO 527) 641 MPa
Flexural strength	(ISO 178) 16.9 MPa
Flexural modulus	(ISO 178) 826 MPa
Surface hardness	-

Thermal properties
Softening temperature	- ºC

Other
HS Code	3916.9
Spool diameter (outer)	- mm
Spool diameter (inner hole)	- mm
Spool width	- mm

The AIMPLAS Fili filament supports high extrusion temperatures (250-260 ºC) that guarantee a better finish and a more even print, prints at 40-60 mm/s and does not require a heated bed. The Fili filament does not exhibit signs of shrinkage or warping and it adheres very well to the printing surface. If problems with adhesion are noticed, the Magigoo Original adhesion product can be used with excellent results, as proven in a test conducted at Filament2Print, as well as Magigoo Flex. The manufacturer recommends the skirt adhesion setting to be used with this filament.

The Fili filament has a tendency to leave residue in the nozzle, a behavior similar to filaments with high particle loading. This can be problematic for long prints but can be remedied by thorough maintenance of the 3D printer. A brush can be used to remove the accumulated material from the nozzle. As far as the nozzle, a 0.4 mm nozzle can be used with the Fili filament and the recommended layer height is 0.2 mm.

The Fili filament should be stored in a cool and dry place, in a sealed bag with a desiccant, such as the Slice Engineering filament drying capsule, in a vacuum sealed container or in a filament drying case, like the Fiber Three Safe Light or Long Run drying cases. If stored improperly, the filament will absorb moisture from the air, which can lead to quality degradation of the material and failed prints.

The manufacturer recommends 3D printing with this material in a well ventilated space, on a 3D printer equipped with a HEPA filter or with the help of an air purifier such as the Zimpure 2 air purifier.