Three-dimensional (3D) printing, also known as additive manufacturing , is the technique of fabricating a 3D complex multifunctional structure from a digital file. It has gown in popularity over the past five years to a multi-billion dollar market. Credit Suisse forecasts that global 3D printing market revenues will reach almost $12 billion by 2020; the market was worth approximately $2 billion in 2012. Already widely used for rapid prototyping in traditional industries its use is expanding greatly in markets such as tissue engineering, due to the ability to quickly and accurately fabricate any desired 3D model. Other anticipated future applications include creating aerospace parts, printed electronic circuits and sensors.
Nanomaterials such as graphene, carbon nanotubes and nanowires are playing a key role in it’s development. There are a number of graphene companies focusing on 3D printing. Adding graphene to polymers conventionally used in 3D printing improves the polymers mechanical strength as well as its electrical and thermal conductivity. Market leader Stratasys announced in July 2014 a partnershiip with Graphene Technologies to co-develop graphene-enhanced 3D printing materials. Other companies developing graphene-enabled 3D printing materials, including Grafoid, Graphene 3D Lab, American Graphite Technologies Inc., Kibaran and Qingdao Unique Products. Microdrop Technologies reported in June 2014 that they had tested graphene for 3D printing and the material exhibited excellent quality and characteristics.
3D Graphtech
www.kibaranresources.com.au
THE COMPANY
3D Graphtech Industries was established in 2014 by Kibaran Resources and 3D Group to research and develop graphite and graphene applications for 3D printing. The companies are also partnering with CSIRO.
THE TECHNOLOGY
The company is seeking to develop the application of graphene inks for 3D printing and fused filament fabrication.
Graphene 3D Lab, Inc.
www.graphene3dlab.com
THE COMPANY
Graphene 3D Lab is developing, manufacturing, and marketing proprietary graphene-based nanocomposite materials for various types of 3D printing, including fused filament fabrication.
THE TECHNOLOGY
The company’s proprietary method has the potential to enable a one-touch capability that can print working electronic devices. Graphene 3D Lab applies its technology to improve polymers by adding graphene, thereby making polymers suitable for the 3D printing of operation-ready devices. Applications the company is seeking to develop include 3D printed batteries. They have partnerships with a number of companies to develop products. Image: Graphene 3D Lab
Grafoid
www.grafoid.com
THE COMPANY
The company is engaged in the development of graphene patent joint ventures globally, in the areas of renewable energy, advanced polymer materials, biomedicine, thermal dispersion technologies, coatings and a number of classified material development projects.
THE TECHNOLOGY
The company produces MesoGrafTM high-energy density graphene applications and economically scalable production processes for pristine bilayer and trilayer graphene and MesoGrafTM derivatives from raw, unprocessed, graphite ore. Grafoid has an agreement with Altamat Inc. for the construction of an atomization facility to produce MesoGraf™graphene-based powders and filaments for 3D printing.
Arevo
www.arevolabs.com
THE COMPANY
Arevo Labs, based in Silicon Valley, California, focuses on the development of technology to enable production grade 3D Printed Ultra Strong Polymer parts.
THE TECHNOLOGY
Arevo’s patent pending technology makes it possible to 3D print out objects which are reinforced with carbon fiber as well as carbon nanotubes. Supported materials include High Performance Polymers such as KetaSpire® PEEK, AvaSpire® PAEK, Radel® PPSU and PrimoSpire® SRP. Arevo’s offering consists of Proprietary Carbon Fiber and Carbon Nanotube (CNT) Reinforced High Performance Materials, printing technology compatible with commercially available filament fusion 3D Printers and specialized software algorithms to create 3D objects with deterministic mechanical properties.
American Graphite Technologies
http://americangraphitetechnologies.
THE COMPANY
American Graphite Technologies Inc is involved in commercialization of graphene specific proprietary technology methods. The company is producing graphene paper with it’s manufacturing partner CTI Nanotechnologies LLC.
THE TECHNOLOGY
The company, in collaboration with the National Academy of Science of Ukraine is researching applications of graphene in 3D printing.
Graphene Technologies
www.graphenetechnologies.com
THE COMPANY
Graphene Technologies has developed and patented a technology for synthesizing graphene through the combustion of magnesium and carbon dioxide, providing an inexpensive and chemically pristine alternative to graphene sourced from mined graphite.
THE TECHNOLOGY
Graphene Technologies and Stratasys have a partnership to co-develop graphene-enhanced 3D printing materials.
