Evonik, the specialty chemicals company, wishes to align its INFINAM® polyamide 12 (PA12) powder materials for 3D printing with improved overall eco-balances. In doing so, the group examines not only CO2 emissions but also other important sustainability factors related to its own footprint, such as water consumption and land use.
The current materials portfolio is gradually being expanded to include new environmentally friendly ready-to-use products. Evonik will begin by introducing a new grade of PA12 powders with significantly lower CO2 emissions.
They will immediately replace the previous INFINAM® polyamide 12 materials in all common powder-based 3D technologies such as SLS, HSS, and MJF.
CO2 Footprint Halved
The new sustainable INFINAM® PA12 powders are manufactured at the Marl Chemical Park using renewable energies. TÜV Rheinland has certified the associated life cycle assessments, attesting to a nearly 50% reduction in the company’s own carbon footprint. The overall life cycle assessment of the new sustainable material grade is positive, even when compared to Evonik’s own Terra castor oil-based polyamides.
“Sustainability is the core element for being successful in the future. That’s why we take a holistic view on it at Evonik. Alongside factors such as production efficiency or the reusability of materials, our sustainability approach includes the total life cycle assessments of our materials and their consistent improvement. Using green energy and renewable or recycled feedstocks for production, we are able to significantly improve the overall eco-balance of our materials. And we work on end-of-life opportunities for our polymers.”
– Dr. Dominic Störkle, Head of the Additive Manufacturing Innovation Growth Field at Evonik
Further Sustainable INFINAM® Powder Materials for 3D Printing
Evonik is also working to expand its portfolio of environmentally friendly PA12 powders to include the INFINAM® eCO product line. The term “eCO” refers to the company’s goal of avoiding the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide through the use of renewable or circular raw materials through the mass balance approach. This method allows for immediate CO2 reduction in existing plants while maintaining product quality. INFINAM® eCO is expected to hit the market in 2023.
The group’s Additive Manufacturing Innovation Growth Field includes Evonik’s 3D printing activities. The company’s strategic focus is on the development and production of industrial ready-to-use high-performance materials for all major polymer-based 3D-printing technologies. As a result, the specialty chemicals company promotes 3D printing as a large-scale industrial manufacturing technology throughout the value chain. Evonik has organised its product range in this context under the new INFINAM® brand.