Victrex is leading a consortium of companies and institutions aimed to push forward innovation in additive manufacturing, especially by developing new grades of high performance Paek polymers, based on chemical formulations optimized for AM processes. Current Paek materials, originally developed for use in injection moulding or extrusion manufacturing process, are already being utilized for 3D printed parts, in both filament fusion and powder-based laser sintering.
The new grade solutions will target especially aerospace industry applications, as well as other industries such and medical, for potentially revolutionary manufacturing techniques for very complex shapes and geometries production, that cannot be made by conventional means. Among the targets is the improvement of the recycle rate for powders used in additive manufacturing LS, reducing polymer wastage and costs, as well as addressing the impredictability of inter-layer adhesion and parts surface finishing in filament-based printing. Victrex already possesses the intellectual property covering the new polymers being developed, and was awarded funding from UK’s agency for innovation, Innovate UK, to help drive the project forward. Members of the consortium are leading companies such as Airbus Group Innovations, EOS, l’Università di Exeter, E3D-Online, HiEta technologies, South West Metal Finishings and Avon Valley Precision Engineering.