FlameRetardant 3D Printing

The problem with many plastics is that they have a tendency to burn—or even accelerate flames—when near a fire. In some situations, it’s important to keep that in mind with your 3D-printed parts. Advanced photopolymers like Flame Retardant Black (Arkema FR512) address this issue.

Flame retardancy is determined by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), which uses precise tests to confer its ratings. Arkema FR512 achieves a rating of UL 94 V-0 at 0.031 in. (0.79mm) and owing to being 3D-printed using Axtra3D Hybrid PhotoSynthesis (HPS) technology, it can offer you the chance to create more organic shapes than with other manufacturing methods.

Because this material retains its mechanical and thermal properties over time, it is well-suited for use throughout the entire development lifecycle—from prototyping and functional testing to end-use applications—including both production and spare parts.

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Guidelines and Capabilities

Flame Retardant Black (Arkema FR512) is a resin that achieves a UL-94 rating of V-0 at 0.031 in. (0.8mm) while maintaining good accuracy when printing fine-featured parts. It is noted for: 

• High strength and heat deflection temperature (HDT)
• Liquid at room temperature
• Robust printing and processing

As with any manufacturing, HPS has some guidelines you need to follow to get quality parts quickly. This chart provides those details:

 

• Max Part Size
• Layer Thickness
• Minimum Feature Size
• Tolerances
• Surface Finish Options
• Special Operations

HPS

	US	Metric
High Resolution	9.8 in. x 5.5 in. x 19.4 in.	249mm x 140mm x 499mm

HPS

	US	Metric
Normal Resolution	0.004 in.	0.100mm
High Resolution (ceramic-filled available)	0.002 in.	0.050mm

 

Tough Black

	US	Metric
Structural Wall Thickness	0.100 in.	2.5mm
Supported Walls (Ribs, Bosses, etc.)	0.040 in.	1.0mm
Positive Features	0.020 in.	0.5mm
Negative Features/Holes	0.025 in.	0.6mm

 

Ceramic-Filled and Flame Retardant Black

	US	Metric
Structural Wall Thickness	0.020 in.	0.5mm
Supported Walls (Ribs, Bosses, etc.)	0.010 in.	0.25mm
Positive Features	0.010 in.	0.25mm
Negative Features/Holes	0.020 in.	0.5mm

 

Tough Black

Expected tolerances are +/- 0.010 in. (0.25mm) for the first inch plus 0.1% of nominal length. Keep in mind that tolerances are not guaranteed on your first build of parts, but we will work closely with you to help achieve critical dimensions. Please request critical dimensions when you upload your part, and our applications engineers will quickly review and provide feedback.

Ceramic-Filled and Flame Retardant Black

For well-designed parts, tolerances in the X/Y dimension of +/-0.002 in. (0.05mm) for the first inch plus 0.1% of nominal length (0.001mm/mm), and Z dimension tolerances of +/-0.005 in. (0.01mm) for the first inch plus 0.1% of nominal length typically can be achieved. Note that tolerances may change depending on part geometry.

Unfinished	Dots, or standing"nibs," remain evident on the bottom of the part from the support structure remnants.
Natural (Default)	Supported surfaces are sanded down to eliminate the support nibs.
Standard	Supported surfaces are sanded, and the entire part is finely blasted for a consistent look. Note that the layers are still present.
Custom	Secondary options include a primer or paint that can be applied as well as taps and inserts.

Additional finishing processes to aid in assembly and meet your exact specifications are available. These include:

• Taps
• Threaded inserts

Max Part Size

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Layer Thickness

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Minimum Feature Size

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Tolerances

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Surface Finish Options

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Special Operations

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Applications for 3D-Printed Flame Retardant Parts

Arkema FR512 is black, stiff, and inflexible, but is well-suited for high temperatures beyond its flammability properties (HDT is 94C). It’s often used in electronics, such as connectors, cable management, and small housings. Really, you’ll see it anywhere electricity or data transmission runs through and where there is desire to mitigate the risk of a burn starting or spreading.

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3D printing this material makes sense when compared to injection molding. Many parts have geometries that are not suitable for molding or high-mix, low-volume situations. We have heard from customers that custom electrical connectors take several weeks to months to arrive in quantity, but 3D-printed parts allow them to continue with assembly until connectors arrive in higher quantities.