PolyFlex TPU 95-HF – Black – PolyMaker

PolyFlex TPU 95-HF – Black – PolyMaker

PolyFlex™ is a group of high quality flexible materials. It provides the ideal solution for applications where high flexibility and durability are required. PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF, created by Covestro’s Addigy®️ family, is a TPU with high flow properties, making it ideal for high-speed printing. Combined with its UV resistance, PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF opens up new applications for flexible materials in manufacturing.

Features

Fast 3D Printing – The high flow rate of PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF allows it to have low viscosity at low temperatures, therefore at the same extruder pressure PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF can be extruded faster, resulting in higher print speeds. Unlike similar TPUs on the market, PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF does not require high temperature for high-speed printing, which also results in a better cooling rate and therefore better surface quality.

Flexibility – PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF is characterized by a Shore A hardness of 95A – a carefully selected hardness that allows it not to stretch excessively when withdrawn from the extruder. Thanks to 3D printing, a model can also be made more or less flexible depending on its design and filling.

Ultraviolet resistance – Ultraviolet (UV) light is probably the most damaging environment for plastics. Therefore, all applications of plastics that are used outdoors are at risk – from roofs and window frames to vehicles. PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF offers excellent UV resistance so that the appearance and mechanical properties of your 3D prints are not adversely affected by UV light.

Wear and tear resistance – Resulting in a tear elongation of over 460%, combined with excellent wear, tear and impact resistance; PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF is an optimal choice for the production of end-use functional parts, rapid prototypes, prosthetics, custom gaskets, jigs and fixtures.

Formulated for 3D Printing – Using Covestro’s Addigy® family as the base material, PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF is specifically designed for 3D printing to combine flexibility, UV resistance and fast print speed for professionals and manufacturers.

Uncompromising Quality – Polymakers’ industry-leading quality control process and rigorous in-house testing ensures reliable printing and consistency across all spools and batches.

TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) is a flexible material for 3D printing. One way of determining the flexibility and softness of a thread is by looking at the Shore stiffness. PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF exhibits a Shore hardness of 95A – a carefully selected hardness that allows it to not stretch excessively when withdrawn from the extruder, improving overall printer compatibility.

The flow rate of flexible materials has always lagged significantly behind that of rigid materials, limiting reliable printing of TPUs to low speeds. PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF (TPU95 High Flow) is an industrial TPU filament with a higher melt index of 9.3 (g/10min at 185°C), allowing it to have a low viscosity at low temperatures. Therefore, with the same amount of pressure from the extruder, PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF can be extruded faster, resulting in higher print speeds.

This is of course achieved without compromising flexibility, PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF offers very similar mechanical characteristics to PolyFlex™ TPU95 and even offers some additional benefits.

• High-speed printing capability.
• Excellent UV resistance.
• Excellent flexibility and durability.
• Excellent impact and abrasion resistance.
• High elongation at break up to 460 %.
• Minimal printing requirements compared to other flexible filaments.
• Exhibits excellent dimensional stability.

With a recommended print speed of up to 100 mm/s, the fast print speed of PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF allows designers and manufacturers to produce functional prototypes, production fixtures and end-use parts much faster than before. Depending on the design of the printer and the geometry of the part, it is possible to print at speeds as fast as 140mm/s and even 200mm/s!

Typically with most TPU filaments it is recommended to use a direct drive printer for best printing results, but the high flow properties of PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF allow the material to achieve high print speeds even on indirect drive printers. In addition, the high melt index has allowed some users to increase download settings without increased risk of jamming.

PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF is commonly used in a wide range of applications to print flexible components such as extruded soft grips, gaskets, bushings, protective case inserts, shoes and fixtures for vibration isolation and damping applications.

Design considerations combined with different infill densities and infill patterns can be used to control the overall flexibility of the final print. The highest print speeds with PolyFlex TPU95-HF are best achieved when printing with linear fill patterns such as rectilinear, grid or line. With these types of infill, the workpiece will show great flexibility and the print head will not need to change direction as often, reducing the time spent speeding up and slowing down.

Three-dimensional infiltration models, such as Cross3D and Gyroid, provide uniform flexibility and are a great choice for users who prioritize flexibility. Fast print speeds can still be used, but since these infil models change direction frequently, the print head will spend more time speeding up when printing infil. The use of moderate infill with structural infill types, such as hexagon and triangle, can increase the rigidity of the workpiece, allowing for the production of jigs and impact-resistant parts that prioritize durability over flexibility.

Ultraviolet (UV) light is damaging to plastics and prolonged exposure to it alters the properties of the material, often resulting in brittle, weak and discoloured parts. All plastics that work outdoors are therefore at risk, which is usually reduced by post-treating the parts with a protective coating. The UV resistance of PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF makes it an excellent candidate for automotive and exterior applications, and the color difference of PolyFlex™ TPU95-HF is imperceptible after exposure to fluorescent UV rays after 72 hours per ISO 4892-2 weathering test standard.

Print settings

• Nozzle temperature 200°C – 220°C
• Plate temperature for construction 25˚C – 60˚C
• Build Surface Material Works well with most build surfaces, i.e. Glass BuildTak®, etc.
• Cooling fan included
• Print speed 40 mm/s – 100 mm/s
• Recommended auxiliary material Double extrusion: PolyDissolve™ S1 (dissolves in tap water