en.Wedoany.com Reported - The German SKZ Plastics Center in Würzburg is collaborating with Diamant Polymer GmbH in Mönchengladbach to develop a conductive impregnating agent for additively manufactured plastic components, aiming to provide 3D-printed parts with a permanently antistatic conductive surface that meets the requirements of electrical safety applications.

This functional coating is applied during the post-processing stage, ensuring that the electrostatic discharge (ESD) properties are maintained over the long term, even when the component is subjected to strong mechanical stress. The project team focused on the interaction between materials, component structure, and processing parameters. By manufacturing sample components with precisely variable porosity, they systematically analyzed the absorption capacity of the impregnating agent within the component structure and its impact on conductivity. At the same time, the research team optimized the selective laser sintering (SLS) process chain, including adjusting design guidelines, evaluating process parameters, and post-processing strategies. Current work focuses on polyamide 12 (PA12) and thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), but the process is expected to be applicable to other additively processed polymer materials in the future. Eugen Schleiger, project manager at SKZ, stated: "If everything goes well, this will open up entirely new possibilities for complex 3D-printed plastic components."

Application areas include scenarios where electrostatic discharge must be avoided and complex geometries are required, such as suction cups for handling battery components in automated production lines, as well as industrial applications with higher requirements for explosion protection and electrical safety. Diamant Polymer has many years of experience in the development of impregnating and penetrating agents, while SKZ contributes expertise in additive manufacturing, materials development, and surface technology.

The project "Conductive Impregnating Agent (AblImp)" is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) for the funding period from January 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027.