Thought3D launches new Magigoo adhesives for TPE and PAEK-based filaments

Malta-based Thought3D, a specialist in 3D printing adhesives, has revealed the latest additions to its Magigoo product family: Magigoo Flex and Magigoo HT. The two new first-layer adhesives add to the company’s growing portfolio of specialized Magigoo adhesives for industrial 3D printing materials.

Just over a year ago, Thought3D announced it would be expanding its product offering to address the growing demand for industrial 3D printing materials in the FDM/FFF segment. The first products unveiled by the company included Magigoo PP for polypropylene, Magigoo PP-GF for glass-fiber-reinforced polypropylene, Magigoo PC for polycarbonate and Magigoo PA for Nylon materials, which were gradually released over the course of a year.

Now, Thought3D has introduced two new Magigoo adhesives developed for use with thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs) and high temperature materials in the PAEK family.

Magigoo Flex

The first, Magigoo Flex was fabricated specifically for TPE materials to improve first layer adhesion. TPEs are a class of polymers that behave similarly to thermoset rubber but have the processing properties of a thermoplastic. Because of this, TPEs have presented an interesting material opportunity for the 3D printing industry, providing good softness, flexibility and strength.

Some TPE filaments, however, have demonstrated lower adhesion to conventional 3D printer build plates, which can lead to warping. Other TPEs, on the other hand, have tended to stick too much to untreated build plates made from PEI or glass. Magigoo Flex offers a solution to this double-sided issue.

“Magigoo Flex was designed specifically to act as the intermediate layer between the printing part and the build surface in order to offer both a good adhesion and a satisfactory release” commented Jean Paul Formosa, Thought3D chemist. “It was not easy to find the perfect balance between the two desirable effects.”

In the end, however, Magigoo Flex has proven to be suitable for use with a range of TPE-based filaments, including those offered by DuPont (Hytrel) and DSM (Arnitel).

Magigoo HT

Magigoo HT, for its part, was designed for use with high temperature thermoplastics, like those in the PAEK family (including PEK, PEKK, PEEK, PEKEKK). With excellent wear, temperature and chemical resistance, PAEK materials have become increasingly sought after in the additive industry. The materials, which can also be reinforced with carbon or glass fibers, have found applications in the automotive, aerospace and medical industries, especially in cases where lightweight, strong parts are required.

This class of material has come with its own set of challenges for 3D printing. For instance, the materials require a high temperature, meaning that specialized hardware systems are often required. Further, the materials have a high tendency to warp.

Magigoo HT helps to curb this problem by improving the adhesion of PAEK-based filaments to the print bed. The specialized adhesion solution was developed to work at elevated build plate temperatures of up to 150°C.

“We love using Magigoo HT with Essentium PEEK filament,” said Dr. Brandon Sweeney, Head of R&D, Materials, Essentium. “We used to have parts come off our bed when using PVA, but since switching to Magigoo HT we have no had a single print failure from poor bed adhesion.”

Magigoo Pro

Since the launch of its Magigoo Pro adhesion series, Thought3D has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from its clients, including Polish 3D printer manufacturer 3DGence, which has been using Magigoo PP and Magigoo PA; Owens Corning, which has been using a special solution for its Xstrand GF30-PP filament; and Polymaker, which has recommended Magigoo PC for its PC-based materials.

The two new additions will surely expand the company’s growing client base, as it turns increasingly from the maker segment to professional adopters.

“Creating new adhesives for really high performance engineering filaments has not been an easy task,” said Dr. Keith M. Azzopardi, Co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer at Thought3D. “Despite of all the challenges, we have still managed to create state of the art adhesives and managed to keep the formulations of our adhesives environmentally friendly and water based.”