Slovnaft has developed its own innovative material for 3D printing

Slovnaft Develops Polypropylene for 3D Printing

The new material from Slovnaft is available in four different variants in pellet form. The individual grades differ in colour, with two available in natural and two in black, and also in the surface texture of the materials produced from them. This variety allows the final product to be adapted to various specific requirements and market needs. Development of the product formulation took three years.

“We are extremely proud to have expanded our portfolio with a new innovative product that meets the highest quality standards. Our long-term goal is to contribute to the development of 3D printing, not only in Slovakia but also worldwide and to respond appropriately to the demanding requirements placed on materials in this sector. Development in this segment is also fully in line with MOL Group’s long-term strategy Shape tomorrow,” said Matúš Horváth, Manager of the Product Development and Improvement Department.

Product testing and development were carried out in close cooperation with experts from the Slovak Academy of Sciences and the Technical University of Košice, who participated in analysing the mechanical and physical properties of the pellets. Support for testing at the international level was provided by the German research institute SKZ – Das Kunststoff-Zentrum.

Slovnaft has developed durable, lightweight and safe polypropylene for 3D printing

The new product will be manufactured according to Slovnaft’s formulation by Aurora, a subsidiary of MOL Group, which specialises in the production of innovative plastic materials. In the petrochemical segment, Slovnaft’s main activities include the production and sale of polyethylene and polypropylene. These account for approximately 8 % of the refinery’s total production portfolio.

About 3D Printing

When manufacturing products using 3D printing, material is printed layer by layer onto a build platform. The main advantage of 3D printing is the unlimited possibilities in terms of product geometry. No mould is required, so only a few hours elapse between designing a prototype and printing the product. Polypropylene in 3D printing is an ideal material for components that are frequently damaged or require frequent replacement, because it exhibits good impact resistance as well as  good scratch resistance. Another advantage is its low density, which enables the creation of lightweight parts even in the case of large components.