igus has expanded its range of 3D printing materials with the new iglidur i190PF filament, intended for the production of sliding elements with quality comparable to injection-moulded parts. The solution is aimed at users seeking highly wear-resistant components made from high-performance plastics, while also meeting the requirement of PTFE-free material. The new filament is based on the proven tribological material iglidur i190 and offers the same tribological properties as the injection moulding material iglidur W300, which is one of the standard materials in the igus portfolio. The use of FDM technology enables fast and economical manufacturing of special-shaped parts, prototypes and small series, while retaining the performance characteristics known from injection-moulded components.
PTFE-free filament as a response to market requirements
For several years, igus has been implementing a strategy of transferring established iglidur materials used in injection moulding into forms suitable for 3D printing technologies. The introduction of iglidur i190PF filament is another step in this process. It is a PTFE-free version developed as an equivalent to the popular iglidur W300 material for 3D printing applications.
"At a time when there is an ongoing discussion about the potentially harmful effects of PFAS, we wanted to offer PTFE-free materials for all 3D printing processes" explains Michał Sędrowski, 3D Printing Product Manager at igus. The manufacturer’s portfolio already includes PTFE-free resin and SLS material, while iglidur i190PF is the first filament of this type offered by the company.
Mechanical and tribological properties of iglidur i190PF
The new filament is characterised by parameters intended to allow replacement of conventional FDM materials in applications requiring high wear resistance. iglidur i190PF provides the same tribological properties as the injection moulding material iglidur W300, while being free of PTFE. The material’s flexural strength is 80 MPa, and parts made from this filament operate dry-running and maintenance-free.
According to igus, the filament stands out due to its high mechanical strength and very high wear resistance, significantly exceeding standard polymers used in 3D printing such as ABS or nylon. Printed components can operate at temperatures up to 90°C, while maintaining long service life without additional lubrication. iglidur i190PF is also suitable for the design of sliding elements in multi-material components, as it bonds well with high-stiffness materials.
The filament can be processed on all commonly available enclosed 3D printers equipped with heated build plates, which facilitates its implementation in existing FDM printing processes.
Wear test results from the igus laboratory
The operating properties of iglidur i190PF have been verified in the igus test laboratory with a floor area of 5,500 m2. The tests demonstrated very good wear parameters and a lower coefficient of friction compared to standard materials used in FDM technology.
In a pin-on-disk test carried out with a 10 N load on a disc made of 304 stainless steel, a test specimen printed from iglidur i190PF filament achieved a 100-fold better wear rate compared with a specimen printed from PETG. On this basis, the manufacturer indicates that designers can produce PTFE-free sliding parts by 3D printing without sacrificing the material properties known from iglidur i190 filament.
Component manufacturing using filament or 3D printing service
igus offers iglidur i190PF in two usage models. On the one hand, the filament is available to users for in-house processing on their own 3D printers. On the other hand, the material has been integrated into the company’s 3D printing service, intended for the rapid production of special parts, prototypes and small series.
Customers using the service can upload a STEP file to the online configurator, select the material and required quantity, and then receive finished components within a few days. This solution is intended to enable economical manufacturing of sliding parts with complex geometries, without the need to invest in injection moulds and with short lead times.
With iglidur i190PF, igus has developed an extremely robust filament for 3D printing of wear-resistant, PTFE-free special parts.
