3D-POWDER CF3 SD Bio, solvent-debindable bio eco powder binder with ultra-low melting temperature for cold SLS printing of metal, ceramic, polymer & exotic powders on minimally heated printers

This material is a universal solvent soluble solvent debindable eco bio-based powder binder and the lowest-melting solvent-debindable binder of the 3D-POWDER CF family, enabling cold SLS printing of ceramics, metals, polymers and exotic powders on printers with minimal or no bed heating capability, followed by eco friendly debinding and sintering workflows.

Designed for low-temperature ("cold") selective laser sintering workflows using ceramic, metal, polymer and exotic powders, followed by cold solvent debinding in Debinding Solution DS1 Bio and subsequent thermal debinding and sintering. Its ultra-low melting temperature lets the laser fuse the green part with minimal energy and a cold bed, making it the solvent-route option for open SLS printers with limited heating capability. As a thermoplastic binder it melts and coalesces under the laser to give the green part its cohesion on its own, so it does not require a Nylon or PLA co-binder; a fusible co-binder may be added only as an option when extra green strength is needed for demanding powder systems (e.g. heavy metal powders or large parts). A sacrificial pore former (3D-POWDER SLS PMMA 20-50) is also optional, added only when controlled porosity is required.

• Cold Metal Fusion CMF
• Cold Ceramic Fusion CCF
• Cold Polymer Fusion CPF
• Cold SLS printing of ceramics, metals, polymers and exotic powders on printers with minimal or no bed heating
• Low-energy SLS printing where a low laser dosage and a cold bed are preferred

• Resolution: up to 50 microns of final products depending on the particle size of the chosen ceramic, metal, polymer, or exotic powder
• Low melt viscosity for increased flow, wetting and binding
• Maximum particle size: <150 microns (ISO 13320)
• Lowest-melting solvent-debindable binder of the 3D-POWDER CF family
• Soluble in eco solvent (Debinding Solution DS1 Bio); not water soluble
• Thermal degradation with clean low-residue thermal burnout ahead of sintering

• Melting temperature: 55-65ºC (ISO 11357-3)

• Universal solvent soluble solvent debindable eco bio-based powder binder with ultra-low melting temperature for Selective Laser Sintering SLS printing of ceramic, metal, polymer, and exotic powders
• Bio-based, biodegradable powder for eco friendly SLS printing, debinding and sintering of ceramics, metals, polymers, and exotic powders
• Lowest-melting solvent-debindable binder of the 3D-POWDER CF family, enabling cold SLS printing with a cold bed and low laser energy on printers with limited heating capability
• Forms the solvent-soluble body of the green part; the laser melts and coalesces this ultra-low-melting binder to give the green part its cohesion at low bed temperature
• Self-sufficient binder: gives green-part cohesion on its own and does not require a Nylon or PLA co-binder; a co-binder is optional, only for demanding powder systems needing extra green strength
• Clean ash-free thermal burnout for low-residue thermal debinding ahead of sintering
• Excellent solvent solubility for cold solvent debinding in Debinding Solution DS1 Bio
• Excellent adhesion, uniformity and stability without gravitational separation after mixing with micron and submicron ceramics, metals, polymers, and exotic powders
• Promotes controlled and reproducible process shrinkage which depends on final added powder ratio
• Minimum expansion coefficient to prevent micro-fractures
• Paraben free

• Ideal non water soluble binder soluble in Debinding Solution DS1 Bio for fast cold eco solvent debinding and sintering without imperfections nor cracking
• Easy physical dry powder mixing and wetting with ceramics, metals, polymers and exotic powders with low cost dry powder mixing equipment
• Printable by most plastic / polymer powder SLS printers, including open machines with minimal or no bed heating
• Recommended mixing at room temperature in a powder mixer or similar to ensure full wetting and mixing; keep the blend cool and dry, as the binder softens at low temperature
• Recommended starting composition (approximate starting ranges, not a specification; the optimum depends on the chosen functional powder, part geometry and printer and must be validated for each case)
• Recommended starting composition: approximately 10-20% by weight of 3D-POWDER CF3 SD Bio (ultra-low-melting solvent soluble binder)
• Recommended starting composition: optionally 5-15% by weight of a fusible co-binder only if extra green strength is needed for the chosen powder system; not required in the standard blend, as CF3 provides cohesion on its own
• Recommended starting composition: the balance, typically 65-85% by weight, of your chosen ceramic, metal, polymer, or exotic powder or fiber
• Optional: add 0-10% by weight of 3D-POWDER SLS PMMA 20-50 as a sacrificial pore former when controlled porosity or faster debinding of thicker parts is required, reducing the functional powder fraction accordingly; this crosslinked spherical PMMA does not melt but holds its shape and burns out cleanly, leaving smooth spherical pores; omit it when maximum sintered density is the goal
• Recommended plastic or polymer powder SLS printers: SLS printer compatibility, any open mode plastic / polymer powder SLS printer can be used
• Recommended printing process: use a cold or minimally heated bed and a low laser energy dosage, as the binder melts at very low temperature
• If over-melting occurs reduce energy dosage, laser power and/or scan speed, and/or keep the bed cool
• If poor recoating or caking of the powder bed occurs, keep the powder cool and dry and verify the powder blend is dry
• Use air jetting to clean the prints
• Cold debinding in Debinding Solution DS1 Bio for x hours, depending on print size
• Thermal debinding: insert flask in the preheated oven at 40ºC
• Ramp 1-2ºC/minute up to 200ºC
• Hold at 200ºC for 60 minutes
• Ramp 1-2ºC/minute up to 350ºC
• Hold at 350ºC for 30 minutes (complete clean burnout of the binder)
• Ramp 2-5ºC/minute up to sintering temperature of your chosen powder
• Hold at sintering temperature for 180 minutes
• Ramp -2ºC/minute down to 640ºC, then furnace-cool to room temperature

• Bio-based and biodegradable
• Non water soluble binder
• Solvent soluble in Debinding Solution DS1 Bio

The reported properties may vary depending on part design and manufacturing practices. The percentage ratios can be increased or decreased depending on the specifications of the printing settings and the chosen ceramic, metal, or exotic powder. After ordering, 3Dresyns can supply upon request the instructions for calculating the optimum ratio by weight. Final printing, debinding, shrinkage and sintering behavior depend on the chosen powder system, part geometry and full processing workflow, and must be validated by the user.

This material is supplied as a professional manufacturing material and is not marketed as a finished medical device. Final part performance and suitability must be validated by the user according to the intended application.

Use these related 3Dresyns pages to navigate adjacent material and process routes within the same technical workflow.

• Powder Binders for SLS Cold Metal, Ceramic, Polymer & Exotic Materials Fusion

This technical datasheet should be used together with the relevant processing, calibration, safety and workflow documentation available in the 3Dresyns® Resources section.

Access the 3Dresyns® Technical Resources (IFU, calibration, CRT, post-processing and troubleshooting)