Earlier this year, a partnership was announced between Tiamet 3D and Carbodeon, which would work together to develop the first nanodiamond-enhanced 3D printing filament. Known as uDiamond, the filament was patented by Carbodeon and is now available on the market. The nanodiamond-based PLA enables faster 3D printing and improves the mechanical durability of the prints. The nanodiamonds themselves have the ability to shape the structure and properties of the 3D printing material, and they act like lubricants.

In addition, the nanodiamonds improve the conductivity of the PLA. Carbodeon’s testing showed that print speed could be increased up to 500 mm/s, with the prints showing improved mechanical properties. The filament is easy to print with consumer-grade 3D printers, as well.

“This is the first product of a family that will be sold as a finished 3D filament and in a granular format, as well,” said Carbodeon CEO Vesa Myllymäki. “VTT has been a long-term, reliable partner in this development, and has reacted to our needs quickly.”

The Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT) worked with Carbodeon to create methods for evenly dispersing the nanodiamonds in the filament to create a PLA composite optimized for 3D printing and produced at an industrial scale. VTT has also tested the material and prints made from it.

“Using our chemical pilot devices, we at VTT produced the nanodispersed material required for the melt processing, and thus supported the creation of a new product,” said Jarmo Ropponen, Research Team Leader at VTT’s chemical pilots.

Nanodiamonds are diamond particles produced by explosions, and they are among the most thermally conductive and hardest materials known. There are some health concerns about nanosized particles if inhaled, with studies showing that they can cause oxidative stress to the heart, lungs and brain. However, good ventilation is suggested as a way to mitigate the risk, just as it is suggested for any type of 3D printing material. Carbodeon’s nanodiamonds have been shown to be non-toxic and suitable for a range of applications according to EPA and REACH assessments.

“The melt processing of plastics became easier and the mechanical characteristics were improved with the introduction of nanodiamonds,” said Satu Pasanen, Research Scientist at VTT in charge of the plastic piloting in the development. “Based on the preliminary tests, the modulus of the 3D-printed test pieces was improved at best by more than 200% compared to the PLA-based filament already on the market. VTT´s Polymer Pilot produced the first 600 kg material batch, which Carbodeon had refined into a commercial product.”

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