New thermoplastic polyurethane fiber plays with 3D printing industry

Recently, New York-based Voodoo has launched a new thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) fiber, NinjaFlex, expanding its fiber range by adding fully elastic and semi-elastic TPU. It is reported that the material is very suitable for 3D printing.

New thermoplastic polyurethane fiber to play with 3D printing industry

It is reported that NinjaFlex has 12 colors and can produce various elastic impressions, which can be stretched arbitrarily to absorb multiple impacts without degrading.

TPU bridges the gap between rubber and plastic and offers a whole new dimension to printing for a range of applications not possible with simple polylactic acid or copolyesters. Even if it could, the finished product would not be as potent as one made with thermoplastic polyurethane.

The main commercial areas for this material include seals, plugs, textiles, hoses and other functional parts which require elasticity to function well. Because of its high tension, it is not easy to change the strength, it is wear-resistant, and it is not easy to be damaged when it comes into contact with the oil surface, which is the traditional disadvantage of rubber. It is also easily recycled and relatively environmentally friendly, a factor that is increasingly important in this day and age. All of these unique advantages make it a favorite in the automotive and medical fields, which typically require a lot of gaskets and hoses. It is also a very popular shoe material because of its durability and flexibility. It’s no surprise that it finds good use in inflatable boats and other inflatable objects.

Jonathan Schwartz, Founder and Product Operations Officer at Voodoo said: “We are excited that TPU will expand our market by 50%. I think we will see many new creative applications for TPU realized through our services. In For the past few months, we have been testing thermoplastic polyurethane fibers for 3D applications, finding a way to make this material more salable and reliable.”