BASF Ultrafuse 17-4 PH

BASF, one of the largest and most prestigious multinationals in the chemical sector, has committed to additive manufacturing through the Forward-AM brand and its Ultrasint, Ultrafuse and Ultracure lines. It currently has an extensive catalogue of materials for the main 3D printing technologies, including its excellent engineering resins based on urethane, or its metallic filaments.

Ultrafuse 17-4PH is an FFF 3D printing filament composed of 90% by weight of sinterable 17-4PH steel powder and 10% binder polymers developed specifically to facilitate the extrusion of this material.

Image 1: Solar panel clamp made from Ultrafuse 17-4. Source: BASF.

Grade 17-4PH or type 630 steel is a martensitic stainless steel alloyed with chromium and copper, which is noted for its high mechanical strength. This steel can be precipitation hardened to achieve superior strength and hardness. Compared to 316L steel, it has higher mechanical properties at the cost of lower corrosion resistance.

Unlike other PLA-based metal filaments where the debinding process is performed thermally in conjunction with sintering, Ultrafuse 17-4PH uses a specific binder polymer that requires catalytic debinding developed by BASF. This catalytic process has the advantage of being much cleaner than the calcining of PLA, reducing the waste present during sintering and resulting in a final part free of impurities and with properties closer to those of machined or injected steel.

Video 1: Ultrafuse 17-4PH real application case. Source: BASF.

This filament has similar printing conditions to ABS, so it can be used in most FFF 3D printers. In addition, the binders used have been developed to minimise the brittleness characteristic of metallic filaments, which facilitates its use in both direct extruder and bowden printers and does not require heating prior to printing. It is available in 1 kg and 3 kg spools and in 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm diameters.

Image 2: 3D printed insert with Ultrafuse 17-4PH. Source: BASF.

Ultrafuse 17-4PH has been developed with the aim of simplifying and reducing costs in the 3D printing of metal parts. This is why, as in the case of Ultrafuse 316L, this filament is eligible for the debinding and sintering service provided by ELNIK. This service is based on the purchase of coupons, where each coupon entitles the customer to the post-processing of 1 kg of parts. Each voucher covers the debinding and sintering process as well as the shipping and return of the parts. The only factor to take into account is that the pieces must have dimensions of 100 x 100 x 100 x 100 mm or less.

Image 3: Complete process. Source: BASF.

For those users who have the means and want to carry out the debinding and sintering process, BASF provides the parameters and conditions for both processes which can be consulted in the tips for use tab or in the user guide available in the download tab.

BASF Ultrafuse metal filaments make it possible for anyone to 3D print high-quality parts in steel. All that is required is an FFF 3D printer capable of printing ABS and the purchase of a spool of filament and coupons. One spool of Ultrafuse 17-4PH and one coupon is enough to produce up to 1 kg of parts.

Ultrafuse Support Layer, Ultrafuse 17-4 PH and Ultrafuse 316L can be 3D printed with great results on the Forge 1 metal 3D printer developed by Raise3D as part of the MetalFuse solution. MetalFuse consists of the Forge 1 3D printer, the D200-E debinding furnace and the S200-C sintering furnace, and allows for the in-house manufacturing of metal parts with the Ultrafuse metal filaments, resulting in a fully metallic part.