Why use a thermoplastic elastomer in Additive Manufacturing
Thermoplastic elastomers open up possibilities that traditional rubber processing cannot match. Their unique combination of flexibility, durability and processability makes them particularly attractive for additive manufacturing, where they enable applications that would be impossible – or prohibitively expensive – with conventional methods.
With AM, manufacturers can produce complex geometries that would otherwise require multiple separate parts and assembly steps, consolidating functions into a single flexible component. The process eliminates the need for molds and tooling, drastically reducing lead times and setup costs for low-volume or custom parts. It allows the production of components too large or too intricate for standard injection molding, and makes on-demand customization economically viable. The result is a new class of rubber-like parts that are not only durable and high-performing, but also designed and produced in ways that were not feasible until recently.
Windform RL: making your next 3D printed product better than ever
Windform® RL is CRP Technology’s first thermoplastic elastomer material developed for the Windform material range, engineered specifically for Selective Laser Sintering. In the SLS process, a thin powder layer of the elastomer is selectively melted layer after layer in local areas, without exceeding the material’s melting point. Once the build is complete, the excess powder cake is removed and not reused for other products, ensuring that every part fully complies with the mechanical performance of Windform® RL.
Thanks to its distinctive mechanical fingerprint, Windform® RL has become indispensable in a wide range of applications – from custom sports footwear to automotive and electronics components such as belts, hoses, gaskets and seals.
Compared to other rubber-like polymers, Windform® RL stands out for its higher mechanical strength, elongation at break and impact resilience, combined with an exceptionally high melting point. These properties unlock manufacturing possibilities that, until recently, were beyond the reach of additive processes.
Outstanding properties of our thermoplastic elastomer material
Windform® RL delivers superior durability and stability, with chemical and heat resistance and an outstanding combination of tear resistance and burst strength. It offers design freedom, resistance to repeated bending and deformation, and the possibility of manufacturing functional thermoplastic components through additive processes in industries including automotive, aerospace, construction, electronics, healthcare and many more.
