PTFE-free 3D-printing filament with wear up to 100 times lower

For the production of special geometries, prototypes or small production batches, 3D printing is the fastest and most cost-efficient solution. The new PTFE-free iglidur i190PF filament for 3D printing launched by igus ensures wear up to 100 times lower than that of standard materials and performance comparable to that achieved with injection moulding.

With the introduction of iglidur i190PF, igus is also making available for 3D printing the same materials used in the injection moulding of plain bearings. The new filament is the PTFE-free version of iglidur W300, now therefore also available for additive manufacturing. FDM technology thus makes it possible to obtain components with the same quality and the same wear resistance as parts produced by injection moulding.

"Our goal is to offer PTFE-free materials for all 3D-printing processes, also in light of the international debate on the possible ban on PFAS," explained Nicolò Fassi, head of the 3D-printing division at igus Italia.

iglidur i190PF is igus’ first PTFE-free filament and complements the SLS material already available without PTFE. Based on iglidur i190 filament, the new material ensures the same tribological performance as iglidur W300PF, the standard material for injection moulding. It is characterised, in fact, by high flexural strength of 80 MPa and dry-running capability, thus eliminating the need for lubrication and maintenance. iglidur i190PF also offers high mechanical strength and excellent wear resistance, superior to that of standard plastics such as ABS or PA.

Components produced using this material can be used at temperatures of up to 90° C, ensuring a long service life even in dry-running applications. iglidur i190PF is suitable for the design of sliding surfaces in multi-material components, as it bonds well with highly rigid materials. The filament can be easily processed on all the most common enclosed 3D printers with a heated bed.

Tests carried out in the igus laboratory in Cologne confirm its wear resistance and excellent coefficient of friction compared with standard materials used for FDM printing. In a pin-on-disk test with a load of 10 N on a 304 SS steel disc, a sample printed in iglidur i190PF achieved a wear rate 100 times lower than that of a comparable component made of PETG. This enables designers to 3D-print PTFE-free wear-resistant components without compromising on performance compared with iglidur i190 filament.