UL Publishes Independent Research Study on Safety and Performance Variability for 3D Printed Plastic Parts

UL LLC

2020/3/26 10:00

PR83442

NORTHBROOK, Illinois, March 26, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/ --

UL, a leading safety science company, publishes research findings detailing the

effects of 3D printing on safety-critical polymer performance properties. The

findings have been used to develop a framework for evaluating and qualifying

materials, helping stakeholders across the additive manufacturing (AM) supply

chain to mitigate risk and deliver quality and performance.

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UL investigated the flammability, ignition and electrical properties of samples

that were 3D printed against samples manufactured using conventional,

injection-molded methods. Researchers identified significant safety and

performance variations and concluded that performance ratings from traditional

manufacturing techniques cannot be applied when the same material is used in a

3D printing process to print a 3D part.

In response, UL has developed a certification program for plastics for additive

manufacturing (Blue Card), The Blue Card presents the data necessary to ensure

the integrity and usefulness of materials intended for 3D printing and 3D

printed components and products. A Blue Card is automatically issued when a

material intended for 3D printing receives a UL Recognized Component Mark.

UL Certified AM materials are published in UL's publicly available Product

iQ(TM) database, making them searchable to thousands of manufacturers looking

for a certified 3D material. By using an independently tested and certified 3D

material, end-product manufacturers can save time and money certifying their

end-products or systems. As Blue Cards are specific to a 3D printer, a 3D printer

manufacturer can also certify material for explicit use on his equipment.

Read UL's white paper 'Certifying plastics for additive manufacturing'

(https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2760912-1&h=137509132&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ul.com%2Finsights%2Fcertifying-plastics-additive-manufacturing%3Futm_source%3Dpr_newswire%26utm_medium%3Dtext_link%26utm_campaign%3Dblue_card%26utm_term%3Dmsc%26utm_content%3Dpr&a=%27Certifying+plastics+for+additive+manufacturing%27 ) for an overview on UL's research.

A copy of the detailed research study (https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2760912-1&h=2528069644&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ul.com%2Finsights%2Finfluence-3d-printing-safety-critical-polymer-performance-properties%3Futm_source%3Dpr_newswire%26utm_medium%3Dtext_link%26utm_campaign%3Dbl ue_card%26utm_term%3Dmsc%26utm_content%3Dpr&a=detailed+research+study )

is available for download now.

For more information about UL's certification program for Plastics for Additive

Manufacturing program, visit UL.com/BlueCard ( https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=2760912-1&h=1884311633&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ul.com%2Fofferings%2Ful-blue-card-plastics-additive-manufacturing%3Futm_source%3Dpr_newswire%26utm_medium%3Dtext_link%26utm_campaign%3Dblue_card%26utm_term%3Dmsc%26utm_content%3Dpr&a=UL.com%2FBlueCard ) .

About UL

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