PLN Filkemp

Filkemp is one of the world leading producers of filaments for technical applications, with decades of experience in a wide range of polymers, copolymers and additives. Since 2014, Filkemp has been applying this know-how in the 3D printing industry, the result of which is the PLN filament.

The Filkemp PLN filament is made from a PLA-based biopolymer developed especially for Filkemp. The strongest feature of the PLN filament is that it can simultaneously replace PLA and ABS in prototyping, tooling and other industrial applications, including molding. This is due to the fact that PLN offers great thermal and mechanical resistance which can be further improved by annealing the parts at 100-110 ºC for crystallization.

After annealing, parts 3D printed with the Filkemp PLN filament can be machined, an ideal feature for tooling and industrial application. The annealing can be carried out by submerging the parts in boiling water for 10 to 15 minutes or placing them in an oven at temperatures of 100-110 °C. It should be kept in mind that annealing PLA can lead to a loss of dimensional accuracy and a deformation of the 3D printed part. Therefore, if mechanical performance is not that essential but aesthetic properties are, annealing should be performed with extreme caution.

Since the Filkemp PLN is a biopolymer, its usage does not have the same environmental implications as the use of ABS, in addition to not generating any offensive odor while extruded. Furthermore, PLN offers great printability thanks to its consistent diameter, perfect roundness and reduced breakage for longer printing performance (an improvement on the brittleness of standard PLA). Parts 3D printed with the PLN filament also have a very good surface finish, and much better UV resistance than ABS.

Due to the fact that the Filkemp PLN filament is PLA-based, it can be easily post-processed to alter the appearance of the 3D printed part, for example smoothed or painted. This process conceals layer lines and imperfections, and can give the 3D printed part a shiny and glossy appearance. First, any surface imperfections should be removed, for example with the Retouch3D finishing tool. Then the part can be sanded and covered with a paint primer or epoxy coating such as XTC-3D or the Nanovia smoothing coating to give it a smooth glossy finish.