Rigid materials
A wider viscosity processing range enables different formulation strategies. For example, a large amount of impact modifiers can be added in high-viscosity resins to take advantage of mechanisms such as crack deflection. As a result, VLM rigid materials are 5 times more impact resistant compared to equivalent standard formulations, accomplishing industry standards and homologations.
Versatile material for end-use applications that don’t involve high temperatures or harsh chemicals, but require a good balance of toughness and rigidity.
- Rigidity
- Strenght
- Impact resistance
- Durability
While legacy acrylic High Temp resins can’t reach mechanical properties to meet industry standards, Supernova’s High Temperature materials combine high HDT, a superior impact resistance, as well as chemical resistance.
- High HDT
- Chemical resistance
- Impact resistance
- Stiffness
A material compliant with UL94-V0 standard, ensuring minimal combustion and low smoke emission in the event of a fire. It also reaches high levels of tensile strength, impact resistance, and durability, ensuring that even in the event of a fire, the structural integrity of critical components is maintained to enhance overall safety in transportation systems.
- UL94 - V0
- High temperature resistance
- Impact resistance
- High elongation
Why does viscosity matter?
Low-viscosity resins can’t meet industrial standards and homologations due to the limited ingredient set available to keep viscosity within the processability range. Therefore, legacy formulations are predominantly formed by monomers and a very small fraction of oligomers, additives, fillers and modifiers can be used since its inclusion spike viscosity out of the processing window. Consequently, low-viscosity resins will inevitably have compromised mechanical, thermal and chemical and performance.
During photopolymerization, monomers and oligomers bond covalently at their terminations, forming a matrix that is crucial for the final material properties. As low-viscosity resins are mostly formed by short-chain monomers, the are many more covalent bonds in the matrix, and it becomes inevitably over-crosslinked, leading to brittle parts that are prone to crack propagation from weakened bonds at functional termination, and inferior elastomeric behavior because of poor tear strength or elongation at break.
Some AM processes rely on heating up the material to lower its viscosity and enable its processing, but this has several drawbacks: The material undergoes curing reactions when exposed to heat, leading to inconsistent properties among layers as the last ones are affected by partial curing during a longer pre-heating period. Moreover, heat increases the VOC emissions, which pose serious health risks and require expensive equipment in the facilities to ensure a safe work environment.