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PBF-LB/P group description
Our group builds on more than 20 years of experience in materials and process development for PBF-Plastics to create new applications and solve real industry challenges. We can print a broad range of polymers—going well beyond PA12—and help explore alternative materials, expand applications, and unlock the full potential of plastics AM. If you’re interested in collaborating or learning more, we’d be happy to hear from you!
Our PBF-Plastic Portfolio
We offer a range of different plastic materials to test your applications with!
Interested in more? Contact: Daniel.Werner [@] inspire.ch
Our PBF-Plastic Printers
Farsoon ST252P: Enables high temperature flexible printing. With open parameters we can print a wide range of different polymers
Sintratec S3: fast and perfect for training and quick screening purposes!
DTM 2500: Ideal for larger builds and to asess business cases for large parts / small series production
Our PBF-Plastic Projects
PHAs Push a Sustainable Swiss Circular Economy explores how bio-based polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) can replace, or partially substitute fossil-based raw materials (e.g. Nylon 12). Together with academic and industrial partners, we investigated biosynthesis of PHAs and their integration into both PA12 (for additive manufacturing) and common polyester thermoplastics (commodity markets). Early results showed that PHAs can be successfully inserted into PA12, with PA12/PHB blends offering improved ductility and improved definition over pure PHB prints.
Next steps: Determine suitable applications for injection moulding applications
Move over PEEK, another High Temp Material is here. This project explored using a new class of high temperature polyamides to detemine if they can become suitable substitutes for expensive PEEK/PEAK materials for engineering applciations! Initial results indicate suitable processability however mechanical properties and recyclability aspects need to be improved
Next steps: Acquire project partners to further develop materials
Cool down in PBF - The mystery exposed! Cool down processes are a key, but frustrating point in both material and application development for PBF-LP/P due to the inability to know the temperature of the samples buried within the powderbed.
In this international Eurostars project we use advanced in-situ CT Scanning to peer into the cool-down process and see in real time the temperature of the polymer parts! The goal is to determine what is the ideal temperature to remove parts for adjustable mechanical properties (ductile vs stiff) and how to avoid cool-down warpage.
Next steps: Ongoing project
Development of Modular Biodegradable Vertical Farming Panels for Sustainable Urban Agriculture using Additive Manufacturing/3D printing: Urban agriculture in Switzerland faces challenges such as limited arable land, rising food demand, and sustainability constraints. Hydroponic systems address some of these issues by enabling space-efficient, year-round cultivation. However, conventional hydroponics rely on a water recirculation system, synthetic fertilizers, consume high energy, and produce non-biodegradable substrate waste, limiting theirlong-term ecological viability.
We are working on 1) Biodegradable Polymer Foamed Panels providing an interconnected porous substrate thatdecomposes naturally over time, eliminating plastic waste and optimizing water/nutrient transfer 2) Fungal inoculation preventing pathogen contamination while enhancing microbial biodiversity and nutrient uptake
Our Ongoing PBF-Plastic Projects
Due to Confidentiality reasons, we are unable to show the ongoing projects in detail. However, below are abstracts as findable on ARAMIS:
1. Next-Generation Heart Valve Stents: Shape Memory Polymers Beat Metals (Innosuisse)
Abstract: Each year, >300,000 patients receive a new heart valve. Current metallic stents lack growth adaptation and can lead to long-term complications. We aim to develop a 3D-printed polymeric heart valve stent, which offers shape memory, self-expansion, and biodegradability ensuring better patient outcomes
2. A Non-Toxic, Long Lasting Anti-Microbial Polymer Solution for Surface Coverage (Innosuisse)
Abstract: We target a non-toxic (no harmful elements, e.g. Cu), durable contact-based anti-microbial solution for plastic and metal surfaces. By perfecting polymer-active compatibility, we prevent extraction-based active loss which occurs during required surface cleaning, extending durability.
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