Since 2020, plastics specialist igus has been offering 2-component 3D printing (2K), which makes it easy to combine different material properties. This is also the idea behind the new, fibre-reinforced filament igumid P190, which was specially developed as a material partner for the tribofilament iglidur i190. iglidur i190 is characterized by its high wear resistance and excellent service life thanks to the solid lubricants incorporated in the material. Its abrasion resistance is up to 50 times better than that of regular 3D printing filaments. The new, fiber-reinforced igumid P190, on the other hand, offers twice the strength and five times the stiffness of the iglidur material. "With the help of multi-material printing, these two filaments can be combined in a single production step to create a highly stable and friction-optimized component," explains Tom Krause, Head of Additive Manufacturing at igus. The 2K printers work with the "Fused Deposition Modeling" (FDM) process. In this process, both plastics are melted in a separate printing nozzle and built up layer by layer to form a workpiece. "Both filaments together have a very good material bond. This makes them ideal for multi-material printing," explains Tom Krause. Two-component parts are used in grippers, for example, so that they have a rigid body and flexible gripping surfaces for a secure grip.

Stable, light, proven

The high strength of the material also means that less material is required. The filament has a low density of 1.25 g/cm³. This means that igumid P190 can also be used for lightweight construction. In addition, additive manufacturing usually only takes a few hours from printing to the functional individual part. Light weight, high strength, fast availability and flexible implementation in printing also make igumid P190 interesting for the production of precisely fitting special connection elements for energy chains. The individual solutions have the great advantage, for example, that energy chains can be installed in a more space-saving manner. In addition, the filament has similar material properties to those of injection-molded energy chains and, thanks to its strength, can also withstand tensile and bending loads. Due to its high strength and rigidity, igumid P190 is also suitable for the production of stable structural components. Tests according to DIN EN ISO 178 in igus' own 3,800 m² laboratory have shown that the filament has an enormous flexural strength of up to 237 MPa and a flexural modulus of elasticity of 11.5 GPa (printed flat, print lines aligned for optimum strength, filling direction optimized) thanks to fibre reinforcement.