Material development

GMBU e.V. develops materials for additive manufacturing, especially for additive material extrusion with thermoplastics (Fused Deposition Modeling). Together with partners from industry and research we develop materials for other techniques processing plastics, too. Our activities cover functionalization of materials, use of bio-based polymers and additives, recycling of plastics, and optimization of materials for additive manufacturing processes.

For this purpose GMBU e.V. is equipped with modern manufacturing equipment on a laboratory scale to produce application-specifically modified materials for additive manufacturing processes, to form them by material extrusion into pellets or filaments, and to evaluate them regarding their processing and strength properties.
In the area of material development the following topics are given as examples of our work:

• material evaluation for Fused Deposition Modeling
• material functionalization: electrically conducting, magnetic, dimensionally stable under heat, thermally isolating, foamable
• material developments based on bio-polymers and renewable raw materials
• material development based on recyclate

Functional materials

GMBU e.V. develops new materials and recipes based on different plastics, e.g. polyesters, polyamides and polyolefins. A wide range of different functionalities is adjusted by adding additives and fillers, blending different polymers, and reactive extrusion. The developments aim at the realization of application-specific functionalities like anti-microbial protection, electrical conductivity and ESD protection, flame retardancy, dimensional stability under heat, or foamability.

Bio-based materials

The production of high-quality materials for additive manufacturing can be based on bio-derivative polymers and fillers. For this bio-polyesters and bio-polyolefins are used as well as plant fibres, wood or starch. GMBU e.V works together with industry partners that have long-term experience in the development of plastics from renewable raw materials.

Recyclates

In cooperation with different partners from industry and research, materials based on plastics recyclates are developed. For this we draw on commercially available materials as a basis. Additionally, GMBU e.V. is a partner in developing recycling techniques evaluating recyclates regarding their suitability for additive manufacturing.

Variabilities in material development

The range of processed base polymers includes amongst others:

• injection moulding, extrusion and 3D printing types
• polylactic acid (PLA), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), PETG
• polypropylene (PP), polyolefin-elastomers (POE)
• polyamides (PA12, PA6, PA66)
• thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), thermoplastic elastomers
• polystyrene (PS)
• biopolymers
• recyclates (PIR, PCR)

For modification and functionalization the following additives are used:

• ground fibres (glass fibre, carbon fibre, natural fibre)
• carbon nano tubes (MWCNT), soot, graphite
• magnetic materials, metals
• hollow micro glass globules
• wood, paper
• pigments

Additionally, a range of additives for the specific adjustment of processing and usability properties can be used, for example:

• impact resistance modifiers
• compatibility agents
• adhesion agents
• foaming agents

With this a wide range of different properties can be achieved, e.g.:

• flexible / elastic / soft … rigid / high-strength / firm | ductile and impact resistant
• coloured | transparent … translucid … opaque | glossy … matt
• electrically / thermically isolating … electrically / thermically conducting
• permeability (ferromagnetical), permittivity
• dimensionally stable under heat | foamable | soluble
• low warpage