Onyx FR, or Flame Retardant, is a new, V-0 rated flame-retardant material from 3D printer provider Markforged. The V-0 rating is based on the US standard UL94. It means that burning stops within 10 seconds on a vertical specimen. Traditional 3D printed plastics will burn if they catch fire, but this new material is self-extinguishing, so it will actually stop itself from burning. The tests were conducted by a third-party lab, and the rating applies to parts down to 3 millimeters in thickness. Certificate is available on request.
The new material is designed for industries such as aerospace, automotive, and defense. Examples of parts that can now be printed are functional prototypes where flammability is a concern. Low volume and custom production parts that are non-flight critical, such as brackets, mounts and replacement parts. In electronics, Onyx FR can be used to 3D print housings and connectors.
Onyx FR also features properties such as high strength, superior print quality and high-quality surface finish – all while resisting fire. It is a viable alternative to traditionally manufactured parts in aluminium, because it can be reinforced with continuous carbon fibre. This makes it more cost effective and lighter in weight.
The new material Onyx FR will be available to all new and existing Markforged customers with its industrial series printers, featuring the X3, X5 and X7.
Compared to the regular Onyx, the tensile modulus for Onyx FR is 1.3 (1.4). The tensile stress at yield is 29 (36), and the tensile stress at break 30 (31). Flexural strength is 79 (81), and the flexural modulus 4.0 (3.6). Onyx FR joins Markforged’s wide portfolio of industrial metal and composite materials. Eiger, Markforged’s cloud-based software platform, makes it easy for clients to design a part, choose their materials, and just click print from across the room or around the world.
P.S.: Onyx FR material will soon be available in our webshops!
