Enterprise-backed Carbon burst onto the scene in 2015, popping out of stealth as the primary firm to commercialize steady digital mild processing (DLP) expertise. The 3D printing double unicorn impressed the trade with not solely the pace of its Steady Liquid Interface Manufacturing (CLIP) resolution, but additionally its capacity to print end-use elements utilizing warmth remedy and a specialty chemical components. The engineering-quality supplies it affords has helped the California-headquartered startup land some main sportswear offers, like adidas, CCM, and Rawlings. Extra functions like this could possibly be coming with the discharge of its latest high-performance elastomer, EPU 46.

The product growth and manufacturing expertise firm already has a fairly sturdy supplies library, with six different elastomeric choices together with SIL 30, EPU 40, EPU 41, EPU 43, EPU 44, and EPU 45. However by including the brand new customizable EPU 46 to its portfolio, Carbon can develop its idea-to-production platform and meet the rising demand for brand spanking new product alternatives. Plus, it’s stated to be a extra sustainable materials choice.

“EPU 46 is the way forward for elastomer customization, combining the advantages of efficiency, consolation and sturdiness with the thrill of customized colours and tunable materials stiffness. EPU 46 furthers our dedication to offering a sturdy and full idea-to-production platform that may be absolutely personalized to our consumer’s specs,” acknowledged Jason Rolland, SVP of Supplies at Carbon. “That is actually the following step in our journey to creating something that may be dreamt up.”

EPU stands for Elastomeric Polyurethane, which suggests it has the traits of rubber; that’s why it’s so good for functions like midsoles. It’s additionally corresponding to Thermoplastic Polyurethane Elastomers, or TPU. Carbon’s elastomeric materials household options purposeful toughness, resistance to chemical, abrasions, and UV mild, and the supplies are excessive influence, sterilization suitable, and power damping. Its new EPU 46, which is available in a rainbow of wealthy shade choices to allow personalized merchandise, was designed to fulfill requirement calls for for premium merchandise, focusing particularly on aesthetics, consolation, and efficiency…once more, this screams “sportswear functions.” The fabric affords nice sturdiness and high-performance materials properties, and customers are in a position to fine-tune its materials stiffness as nicely, however with out altering its properties or compromising on printability.

The fabric’s wonderful energy-returning, dual-cure properties supply a number of necessary benefits, together with pace and customization. EPU 46 affords quick print occasions, nice printability, and a variety of fabric stiffnesses and colours. Talking of those customizable colours, they gained’t change or put on away, as a result of Carbon has added pigment on to the resin. It additionally is available in tunable materials stiffness values from Shore 78A-55A, as a result of the corporate was in a position to tweak lattice parameters, like cell dimension and strut diameter, to permit for a wider vary. This additionally enabled functions that require tactile qualities, together with handles and skinny options the place it’s tough to match a gentle compression.

Designed for high-volume manufacturing effectivity, Carbon’s new EPU 46 is sturdy sufficient for demanding, high-performance functions, and on account of its inherent customization capabilities, it ought to be a very nice alternative for premium merchandise resembling footwear, grips, and bike saddles.

Maybe most enjoyable about Carbon’s new EPU 46 is that it pushes the corporate’s efforts in eco-friendliness. Carbon decided 4 important sustainability focus areas to assist reduce its influence on the planet: recycling, hazardous waste discount, half dematerialization, and bio-based uncooked supplies.

“Bio-derived uncooked supplies from sources resembling crops or microbes are renewable and have a significantly decrease carbon footprint when in comparison with petroleum-derived supplies,” the corporate wrote. “Carbon has partnered with corporations resembling DuPont Tate & Lyle to make use of bio-derived precursors to polyurethane constructing blocks in our resin formulations. Manufacturing of those bio-derived supplies generates 56% much less greenhouse gasoline emissions and makes use of 42% much less nonrenewable power in comparison with their petroleum-derived counterparts.”

Identical to Carbon’s EPU 44, this new elastomer incorporates 40% bio-based materials; its RPU 130 incorporates 25% bio-derived parts by weight. Moreover, to decrease manufacturing waste, EPU 46 is designed for solvent-free spin cleansing and resin reclaim.

The brand new EPU 46 materials by Carbon will probably be accessible internationally by the top of this month.