Redwood City, Calif. — Redwood City-based Carbon, a 3D manufacturing specialist, and Henkel AG & Co. KG's Loctite brand, a specialty chemicals supplier, have expanded their partnership so Carbon customers can access Henkel's patented, single-component technologies, including a one-part clear resin suitable for Carbon's Digital Light Synthesis (DLS) process.
The new 3D printable resin, called Loctite 3D IND405, has potential applications for enclosures and housings, light pipe prototypes, bottle prototypes, jigs and fixtures for production floors and more, according to a news release issued by both companies.
The resin's transparent properties are sought by engineers and designers, especially with clear plastics representing about 20 percent of all plastics used worldwide, according to the release.
The resin also is semirigid for functional toughness with mechanical properties validated for Carbon printer. The companies say it is durable but not brittle for high-impact resistance.
"Our expanded partnership with Carbon allows us to deliver Loctite solutions to customers in the aerospace, automotive, industrial and medical markets. Together we offer an efficient additive manufacturing workflow that facilitates the production of durable end-use parts," Simon Mawson, Henkel's senior vice president and head of 3D printing, said in the release.
Henkel's Loctite brand includes a growing portfolio of resins for photopolymer 3D printing. By combining the company's material expertise with Carbon's DLS printing process, the partners said they are trying to drive more adoption of additive manufacturing at scale.
It's all about bringing better products to market in less time, Mawson said.
"We believe that the single-component technologies from Loctite, coupled with the Carbon DLS process, provide a best-in-class solution that enables higher precision, better functionality and outstanding economics. Together that puts us in a great position to deliver on additive manufacturing's promise to transform industrial manufacturing," Mawson said.
Düsseldorf, Germany-based Henkel also is a consumer goods company with a variety of well-known brands, including Persil, Purex and All laundry detergents as well as Snuggle fabric softeners, Dial soaps and Right Guard deodorants and antiperspirants.
Its Loctite brand makes adhesives, sealants and surface treatments.