3D-POWDER CF5 SD Bio, Solvent Debindable Bio Eco Powder Binder with low thermal degradation (<270ºC) for Cold Polymer Fusion CPF SLS of high performance polymers such as PEEK, PEKK

Product description

3D-POWDER CF5 SD Bio is a universal solvent debindable safe bio based powder binder with low thermal degradation (<270ºC), designed for Cold Polymer Fusion CPF of high performance plastic / polymer powders that melt or soften and consolidate without applied pressure above approximately 280ºC, such as PEEK and PEKK and other high-temperature engineering thermoplastics.

Its usage is recommended for SLS printing of high performance polymer parts by Cold Fusion technology with SLS printers with heating limitations, where the green part is formed at low bed temperature and final consolidation takes place in a separate furnace step.

Application framework

Designed for Selective Laser Sintering SLS printing by Cold Polymer Fusion CPF of high performance thermoplastic polymer powders that melt or soften and consolidate without applied pressure in a furnace above approximately 280ºC. The functional polymer powder is chosen and supplied by the user. Compatible high-performance thermoplastics include the polyaryletherketone (PAEK) family — PEEK, PEKK, PEK, PEEKK, PEKEKK — and other pressure-free sinterable / consolidatable engineering thermoplastics such as polysulfones (PSU, PESU, PPSU), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) and polyetherimide (PEI, Ultem-type). Used in combination with 3D-POWDER CF2 WD Bio as the water-soluble binder of the blend, and, optionally, a sacrificial pore former (3D-POWDER SLS PMMA 20-50) when controlled porosity is required. A conventional fusible co-binder such as Nylon is not suitable for this route because its thermal degradation temperature is higher than the binder-removal window required ahead of high-temperature polymer sintering.

Important: the functional powder must be a thermoplastic that consolidates by melting or viscous flow without applied pressure. Thermoset polymers and non-melt-processable polymers — such as fully aromatic polyimide (PI), which requires pressure-assisted sintering — are not suitable, as they do not consolidate under the pressure-free furnace step used in Cold Fusion.

Typical applications

• Cold Polymer Fusion CPF of pressure-free sinterable high performance thermoplastics consolidating above ~280ºC
• SLS printing of PEEK and PEKK parts by Cold Fusion technology
• SLS printing of wider PAEK family parts (PEK, PEEKK, PEKEKK)
• SLS printing of high-temperature thermoplastics such as PSU, PESU, PPSU, PPS and PEI (Ultem-type)
• Not suitable for thermoset or non-melt-processable polymers (e.g. fully aromatic polyimide PI), which require pressure-assisted sintering
• Use with SLS printers with heating limitations, where final sintering is performed in a separate furnace

Measured physical properties

• Melting temperature: 135-145ºC (ISO 11357)
• Maximum particle size: <50 microns
• Thermal degradation: <270ºC
• Low melt viscosity for increased flow, wetting and binding
• Non water soluble (retains green-part shape during water debinding of the CF2 binder); minor solubility in eco solvent (Debinding Solution DS1 Bio)
• Resolution: up to 50 microns of final products depending on the particle size of the chosen ceramic, metal, polymer, or exotic powder

Functional performance characteristics

• Universal solvent debindable eco safe biocompatible bio based powder binder with low thermal degradation (<270ºC) for Selective Laser Sintering SLS printing by Cold Polymer Fusion CPF
• Safe biocompatible bio based powder for eco friendly SLS printing, debinding and sintering of high performance polymers, such as PEEK and PEKK
• Low melt viscosity for increased flow, wetting, and binding of powders
• Lowest thermal degradation in the 3D-POWDER CF family (<270ºC), allowing clean binder removal below the PEEK / PEKK sintering window where conventional co-binders such as Nylon 12 would not yet have degraded
• Used in combination with 3D-POWDER CF2 WD Bio: CF5 is non water soluble and retains the green-part shape and cohesion while the water-soluble CF2 binder is extracted in water at 60-100ºC
• Minor solvent solubility in Debinding Solution DS1 Bio at 80-90ºC for cold eco solvent debinding without imperfections nor cracking
• Low thermal degradation <270ºC for low-temperature thermal debinding
• Suitable for any high-performance thermoplastic powder (supplied by the user) that consolidates without applied pressure above ~280ºC, where CF5 leaves the green part below the polymer sintering window; the specific furnace sintering schedule is defined by the chosen polymer, and binder–polymer compatibility should be validated for each powder
• Promotes controlled and reproducible process shrinkage which depends on final added powder ratio
• Minimum expansion coefficient to prevent micro-fractures
• Very high resolution up to 50 microns of final products depending on the particle size of the chosen powder
• Paraben free

Processing and handling performance

• Easy physical dry powder mixing and wetting with ceramics, metals, polymers and exotic powders with low cost dry powder mixing equipment
• Mix the powders in a powder mixer or similar at room temperature to ensure full wetting and mixing
• 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 CF2 WD Bio (water-soluble binder)
• Recommended starting composition: approximately 5-15% by weight of 3D-POWDER CF5 SD Bio (low-degradation shape-retaining binder), typically 10%
• Recommended starting composition: the balance, typically 65-85% by weight, of your chosen PEEK, PEKK or other high performance polymer powder
• 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
• Note: Nylon 12 cannot be used as co-binder due to its higher degradation temperature than high performance polymers such as PEEK and PEKK
• Recommended plastic or polymer powder SLS printers: SLS printer compatibility, any open mode plastic / polymer powder SLS printer can be used
• Select the printing parameters by following 3Dresyns IFU for SLS printing
• Reduce bed temperature to 60ºC
• If over-melting occurs reduce energy dosage, laser power and/or scan speed, and/or slightly decrease bed temperature
• If poor recoating or caking of the powder bed occurs, slightly reduce bed temperature and verify the powder blend is dry
• Use water or air jetting to clean the prints
• Cold debinding at 60-100ºC, faster in boiling water, in water for x hours depending on print size
• Thermal debinding: insert flask in the preheated oven at 65ºC
• Ramp 1-2ºC/minute up to 250ºC
• Hold at 250ºC for 60 minutes
• Ramp 1-2ºC/minute up to 450ºC
• Hold at 450ºC for 30 minutes
• 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

Chemical and safety characteristics

• Safe biocompatible bio based powder binder
• Non water soluble binder
• Minor solubility in eco solvent (Debinding Solution DS1 Bio)
• Paraben free

Testing & processing disclaimer

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, polymer or exotic powder. After ordering, 3Dresyns can supply upon request the instructions for calculating the optimum ratio by weight. Once 3D-POWDER CF2 WD Bio and CF5 SD Bio are fully integrated with your chosen powder, the powder mix is ready for SLS printing. 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.

Disclaimer

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.

Document reference: TDS-3D-POWDER-CF5-SD-BIO-EN | Version: 2.1 | Last updated: May 2026