Flame retardant material for 3D printing
Self-extinguishing FDM filament helps reduce the risk of fires
In many industries, it is essential that parts and components meet fire safety standards and thus reduce the risk of fire. Various flame-retardant materials are available for 3D printing, which can be used to achieve just that. In this article we would like to give you an overview of the topic.
What does flame retardant mean?
Flame retardant refers to the property of a material to extinguish or stop burning within a short time after the removal of an ignition source. This is to prevent fires from starting or to limit their spread. Such a material should not be confused with flame-resistant or fireproof materials, which are designed so that they do not even begin to burn and are also resistant to heat.
Applications for flame retardant material
Flame-retardant material is used wherever fire protection regulations must be observed and for example where flying sparks may occur. It plays an important role in electrical engineering, for example, where wires and cables are coated with flame-retardant plastic. This can ensure that products meet fire safety standards and reduce the risk of fires. The transport industry also relies on flame-retardant materials for parts for cars, planes or trains to guarantee the greatest possible safety, as does the construction sector, where the material is used in houses, offices and public buildings.
Flame retardant 3D printing materials
Flame retardant materials for 3D printing usually consist of a base material to which additives for flame retardancy are added. Frequently used base materials are, for example, technical thermoplastics such as PA, ABS or PC. Besides, there are some materials that are inherently flame retardant. However, these thermally stable polymers can have a negative impact on printing performance and are also expensive and difficult to process. Most manufacturers therefore rely on flame retardant additives to slow the rate of combustion, limit dripping and reduce smoke production.
At 3DBAVARIA you have the possibility to have parts produced by FDM process using the halogen-free, self-extinguishing filament ABS - Flame Retardant. As the name suggests, this is an ABS-based material to which halogen-free flame retardants and PoyCarbonates have been added. The property profile of the material enables the printing of stable parts with excellent interlayer adhesion and high dimensional stability. In the case of very filigree or thin structures, however, it should be noted that the material tends to be brittle.
Certification and standards for flame retardant materials
While there are several standards for flame retardancy, UL 94 is probably the most widely used. It was issued by the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the USA and classifies plastics according to their burning behavior in various orientations and part strengths into different categories depending on their flame retardancy. During the test procedure, test specimens of the material are repeatedly ignited with an external flame.
The ABS - Flame Retardant material we offer is designed to meet the 94 V-0 classification. This means that the burning time after the first and second ignition of the material is less than ten seconds. Also, the afterglow of the material after the second ignition must not exceed 30 seconds and particles may only drip off if they do not ignite.
On our material page you will find more detailed information about ABS as well as data sheets on technical properties and material safety. Feel free to contact us if you have any further questions or would like to have flame retardant parts printed.