3D printer filament provider taulman3D has released a new type of copolymer they call “T-Lyne”.
They didn’t do this alone; they’ve partnered with chemical giant DuPont’s polymer scientists to create this interesting material. DuPont provided their Surlyn ionomer for the project. T-Lyne provides “high durability, flexibility, unique viscosity and a wide temperature range.”.
That temperature range is quite wide. They say that very strong parts can be produced at temperatures up to 245C. Meanwhile, if you print at lower temperatures in the 190-210C range, you can “easily obtain” “glass-like aesthetics”.
This is quite important, as many so-called “clear” filaments aren’t really very clear when you print them. T-Lyne isn’t perfectly clear either, but it’s much better than most, as you can see in the image at top.
Another feature is FDA certification for use in prosthetic applications. This raises the interesting possibility of producing see-through prosthetics that would enable medical practitioners to inspect healing progress without removing the prosthetic.
taulman3D says prints produced with T-Lyne should be quite durable, as that is one of the major characteristics of DuPont’s Surlyn material.
Even better, T-Lyne prints on cold surfaces. That, combined with it’s low temperature range, should enable this material to be printed on virtually any desktop 3D printer. It also works with heated beds or many other print surfaces.
T-Lyne has just begun shipping from taulman3D in 1.75 and 2.85mm formats, and is priced at USD$38 per spool. Spools are 1 pound (454g), so this is equivalent to around USD$84 per kg. That’s a very high price for 3D printer filament that isn’t in a proprietary cartridge, but given the properties of the material, it could be worth your money for many applications.
Via taulman3D
