BASF announced that it will cooperate with printer manufacturer Hewlett-Packard to develop printing materials for HP's JetFusion 3D printer. To cope with the 3D printing business, BASF has established a 3D printing application technology center in Heidelberg, Germany.
These materials include thermoplastic engineering plastics, polyurethanes, acrylics and other systems of photopolymers, photoinitiators, functional additives, stabilizers, pigments, metallic materials, and some of these materials can be used in HP's 3D printers.
"Working with companies with a long history in materials development and manufacturing, we hope to transform 3D printing from low-volume production to large-scale industrial production," said Tim Weber, HP's global head of 3D materials and advanced applications.
In order to enable BASF to rapidly develop 3D printing materials, HP has put forward corresponding requirements and specifications. In addition, HP and BASF will exchange views again, and after that, BASF will develop a "new material" to enhance 3D printing product design. In addition, the company's chemical experts plan to expand the range of 3D printing materials, such as the overall combination of plastics, ceramics and metals.