Composite FDM Filaments

Basics

• A standard plastic (PLA,ABS,Nylon,PC,etc) mixed with something else
• This can be done for many reasons such as increased strength (carbon fiber, fiberglass), aesthetics (wood dust, phosphorescent powders), electrical conductivity (graphite dust), metal sintering (metal powders at a high percent composition), magnetism (iron powder)
• One intesting concept is a blend of water soluable and water insoluable filaments. Once printed and dissolved this leaves a porous end product (this may be good for filters/membranes?)
• Very useful, but also more expensive
• Difficult to create possibly (the creation of composite filaments will be explored on a different page; this page is more for current sourcing of composite filaments + seeing what they have to offer)

Technical Details

• Most use either Chopped Fibers (Short Fiber Thermoplastic Composites), or Powder/Aggregate (Particle Composite Thermoplastic)
• There is ONE 3D Printer that can Embed Continous Fiber in FDM Print Layers (May be a seperate toolhead?)
• Also powders can be used for added aesthetics, sintering into metal parts, or for increased strength

Available Filaments

PLA

Conductive

• Proto-Pasta Conductive PLA (Matterhacker's Link)

Magnetic

• Proto-Pasta Magnetic Iron PLA (Matterhacker's Link)

Wood

• Fillamentum Timberfill Light Wood Tone Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• Light Cherry Wood LAYWOO-D3 Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• Wood PLA Hybrid Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• Light Cherry Wood Flexible LAYWOO-D3 Filament (Matterhacker's Link)

Glow in the Dark (Phosphorescent)

• White PLA with Phosphorescent Powder (Matterhacker's Link)
• Blue PLA with Phosphorescent Powder (Matterhacker's Link)
• ColorFabb Glow in the Dark PLA/PHA Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• Glow in the Dark PRO Series PLA Filament (Matterhacker's Link)

Steel Metal Powder

• ColorFabb SteelFill Filament (Matterhacker's Link)

Carbon Fiber

• Proto-Pasta Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• Proto-Pasta High Temp Carbon Fiber PLA Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• Proto-Pasta Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• PRO Series Carbon Fiber PLA (Matterhacker's Link)
• ColorFabb XT-CF20 Carbon Fiber Filament (Matterhacker's Link)

ABS

Glow in the Dark (Phosphorecent)

• White ABS with Phosphorescent Powder (Matterhacker's Link)
• Blue ABS with Phosphorescent Powder (Matterhacker's Link)

Tungsten Metal Powder

• GMASS Tungsten Metal ABS Filament (Matterhacker's Link)

Carbon Fiber

• 3DXTech CarbonX Carbon Fiber ABS Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• Proto-Pasta High Temp Carbon Fiber PLA Filament (MatterHacker's Link)
• Proto-Pasta Carbon Fiber Reinforced PLA Filament (MatterHacker's Link)

Nylon

Carbon Fiber

• NylonX Carbon Fiber Filament (Matterhacker's Link)
• 3DXTech CarbonX Carbon Fiber NYLON Filament (Materhacker's Link)

PC

Flame Resistance

• Flame Resistant Polycarbonate (PC) (Matterhacker's Link)

Carbon Fiber

• CARBONX™ CARBON FIBER PC 3D PRINTING FILAMENT (3D X Tech Link)

External Links

• The Wikipedia Page on Short Fiber Thermoplastics (most early versions, and this page probably refer to "chipper" type fiberglass work, but this may be a technical term for most of the CF/Glass Fiber Filaments)
• Google Search for "Particle Composite Thermoplastic"