Why are ESD-safe materials important?
Because ESD-safe materials reduce the discharge of static electricity, they can prevent damage to products. Should ESD occur during a production or manufacturing process, there lies the potential for costly delays or repairs. Creating ESD-safe areas – either by taking precautionary measures or by using materials that are themselves ESD-safe – can save time and money, as well as increase the efficiency of workflows and operations.
Where are ESD-safe materials commonly used?
ESD-safe materials are predominantly used in the manufacturing of electronics. In such an environment, where sometimes thousands of electronics are created each day, custom jigs, tools, and fixtures are often required, each serving a specific purpose in a specific device’s or component’s creation.
Thomas Collet, head of 3D Printing Materials at LEHVOSS Group, adds:
[Additionally], housing, and jigs and fixtures used in labs need to be ESD-safe. There are really quite a few applications for which ESD-safe materials are appropriate.
When printed with ESD-safe material, parts can be used safely and without worry, ensuring that your results are quality, on-time, and cost-effective.
What else should you know about ESD-safe materials?
Base material is key. ESD-safe materials are created by combining an optimized base material – often ABS, PET-G, or PC – with an additive. The base material will determine the properties of the finished part, such an flexibility or strength. This means choosing the right base material for your application is an important decision
Additives matter. Common additives used to create ESD-safe print materials are carbon black, which is affordable, and carbon nanotubes, which is known for its efficiency, as it has only a small effect on the properties of the material used. In any case, it is important to weight the pros and cons of an additive before selecting it for your use-case
Antistatic, insulating, and ESD. These concepts are often confused. “Antistatic” refers to the prevention of sparks and explosions. “Insulating” refers to protection against electrocution. ESD-safe meanwhile, refers only to the protection of products. Knowing the difference between the three is essential to workplace safety
Ensure correct print settings. While simply using ESD-safe materials when 3D printing is already beneficial to certain applications, using the right print settings can enhance a material’s effects – sometimes increasing the degree of ESD protection
Ultimaker’s ESD-safe material partners
The material companies that provide ESD-safe materials on the Ultimaker Marketplace have tested their materials extensively to ensure that customer gets the correct ESD-safe properties after printing.
Clariant
Clariant’s ESD-safe PET-G is based on unique fillers and optimized for FFF printing to address varied ESD-safe needs. It is strong, tough, and chemical-resistant with high impact strength. It also features reduced thermo-oxidative degradation.