3D Printing
News Videos Newsletter Contact us
Home / News / Virginia Tech Researchers 3D Print Kapton – Highest Temperature Polymer Ever 3D Printed
qidi

Virginia Tech Researchers 3D Print Kapton – Highest Temperature Polymer Ever 3D Printed

September 4, 2017

Researchers at Virginia Tech have just achieved a groundbreaking new 3D printing method. Using mask-projection micro-stereolithography, they have printed the highest temperature polymer to date. The material, Kapton, is an aromatic polyamide that has multiple applications which require high-durability. One of its uses is as spacecraft insulation.

Related Story
PEEK 3D Printing – Everything you need to know
ULTEM 3D Printers and Filament Guide
Related Story
ULTEM 3D Printers and Filament Guide

The researchers insist that 3D printed Kapton has a strength comparable to those made by traditional methods. Katpon begins to lose its mechanical properties at 1,020 °F (548.8 °C). As a result, the new printing method achieves temperatures 285 °F higher than any other polymer would need.

Mask-Projection Micro-Stereolithography

3D printed Kapton
Image retrieved from Advanced Materials

Mask-projection micro-stereolithography is an SLA method. Typically the method uses a broad spectrum light source to cure photopolymers by projecting 2D images using a Digital Micromirror Device. The hardware and operating software are very malleable and thus researchers can apply it to various applications and materials.

While we do not know what printer they used, the researchers at Virginia tech have Mask-projection micro-stereolithography machines like the Autodesk Ember in their lab. Mask-projection micro-stereolithography generally use UV, like most SLA devices. Additionally, like other forms of SLA (aside from constrained surface stereolithography), it places the UV projector above a descending platform, that unveils the print vertically.

Applications

Applications of the material include space insulation and spacecraft parts. NASA and other space travel enterprises are very prominent users of 3D printing technologies. This is a natural step forward for their operations and will come into use use all the safety tests have been cleared.

Another possible use is is in bulletproof vests. Polyamides are the same class of material as kevlar. This can be a boon to law enforcement or arms manufacture industries. This is predicated on just how much more efficient this particular method and strain of material can be to those industries.

Related Story
Adam Savage 3D Prints Titanium Iron Man Suit That’s Bulletproof

The method itself allows for a fast and efficient way to produce very powerful materials. Aside from Katpon, this method opens up new range of high-temperature resins. Considering the material strengths that it can achieve, with further research they could put it to use in all sorts of industrial applications.

Share:
WhatsApp Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Buffer Reddit E-mail
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Latest posts

Navy Maintenance Center Uses 3D Printing to Replace Destroyer Pump Component at Fraction of Conventional Cost

The Southeast Regional Maintenance Center (SERMC) has successfully used 3D printing to manufacture a replacement cooling rotor for an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile... read more »

Military
Navy Maintenance Center Uses 3D Printing to Replace Destroyer Pump Component at Fraction of Conventional Cost

Rapid Fusion Launches AI Assistant for Large-Format 3D Printers

British manufacturer Rapid Fusion has introduced "Bob," an AI-powered assistant designed to optimize operations for its large-format 3D printing systems. The company developed... read more »

News
Rapid Fusion Launches AI Assistant for Large-Format 3D Printers

Creality Submits IPO Prospectus for Hong Kong Stock Exchange Listing

Shenzhen-based 3D printer manufacturer Creality has submitted a prospectus to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange for a main board listing. The company began... read more »

News
Creality Submits IPO Prospectus for Hong Kong Stock Exchange Listing

Graphjet Technology Partners with Malaysian University on 3D-Printed Heat Sink Development

Graphjet Technology has entered into a collaboration agreement with the Centre for Materials Engineering and Smart Manufacturing (MERCU) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM).... read more »

News
Graphjet Technology Partners with Malaysian University on 3D-Printed Heat Sink Development

Humtown drives US Manufacturing Comeback with Additive Sand Casting

Humtown Products, an Ohio-based company, is positioning itself to serve manufacturers looking to bring production back to the United States. The company specializes... read more »

News
Humtown drives US Manufacturing Comeback with Additive Sand Casting

Oak Ridge National Laboratory Releases Advanced Dataset for 3D Printing Quality Monitoring

Oak Ridge National Laboratory has released a comprehensive dataset for its Peregrine software, which monitors and analyzes parts created through powder bed additive... read more »

News
Oak Ridge National Laboratory Releases Advanced Dataset for 3D Printing Quality Monitoring

Creality Expands Flagship Lineup with K2 and K2 Pro 3D Printers

Creality has announced the launch of the K2 and K2 Pro, two new additions to its high-end K series. Built on a rigid... read more »

3D Printers
Creality Expands Flagship Lineup with K2 and K2 Pro 3D Printers

Farsoon and Stark Future Complete KLINGA Project, Producing Over 1,000 Titanium Parts

Farsoon Europe GmbH and Stark Future have completed the KLINGA Project, a collaborative engineering initiative that produced more than 1,000 titanium parts using... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Farsoon and Stark Future Complete KLINGA Project, Producing Over 1,000 Titanium Parts

Swiss Steel Group’s Ugitech Introduces Custom Wire for 3D Metal Printing

Swiss Steel Group and its French subsidiary Ugitech have launched UGIWAM wire, a new product designed for wire arc additive manufacturing (WAAM). The... read more »

3D Printing Metal
Swiss Steel Group's Ugitech Introduces Custom Wire for 3D Metal Printing

QIDI Launches Q2 3D Printer for Home Users with Industrial-Grade Features

QIDI Tech has introduced the QIDI Q2, a compact, beginner-friendly desktop 3D printer engineered to bring professional-grade capabilities into the home. Designed as... read more »

3D Printers
QIDI Launches Q2 3D Printer for Home Users with Industrial-Grade Features

Social

  • Facebook Facebook 3D Printing
  • Linkedin Linkedin 3D Printing
Join our newsletter

Our newsletter is free & you can unsubscribe any time.

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Fashion
  • Medical
  • Military
  • QIDI Plus4

    • - Print size: 305 x 305 x 280 mm
    • - print temperature of 370°C
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech X-Max 3

    • - Print size: 325 x 325 x 315 mm
    • - fully enclosed
    More details »
    $799.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • QIDI Tech Q1 Pro

    • - Print size: 245 x 245 x 245 mm
    • - 600mm/s max speed
    More details »
    $449.00 QIDI Store
    Buy Now
  • Snapmaker Artisan Premium 3-in-1

    • - Print size: 400 x 400 x 400 mm
    • - comes with enclosure
    More details »
    $2,999.00 Snapmaker
    Buy Now

Company Information

  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing

Blog

  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal

Featured Reviews

  • Anycubic Photon Mono M5s
  • Creality Ender 5 S1
  • The Mole 3D Scanner
  • Flashforge Creator 3 Pro

Featured Industries

  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
2025 — Strikwerda en Dehue
  • Home
  • Join our mailing list
  • Contact us
Blog
  • Latest News
  • Use Cases
  • Reviews
  • 3D Printers
  • 3D Printing Metal
Featured Industries
  • Automotive
  • Aerospace
  • Construction
  • Dental
  • Environmental
  • Electronics
  • Medical
  • Military
  • Fashion
  • Art
Company Information
  • What is 3D Printing?
  • Contact us
  • Join our mailing list
  • Advertise with us
  • Media Kit
  • Nederland 3D Printing