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Polycarbonate (PC)
Overview
Medical Polycarbonate (PC) Filament is an advanced 3D printing material specifically engineered for the stringent standards of healthcare applications. Known for its biocompatibility, non-toxicity, and exceptional chemical resistance, it delivers superior impact resistance, rigidity, and drillability printed materials. Ideal for producing surgical guides, medical devices, and training models, Medical PC delivers both strength and reliability for critical healthcare environments.
Key Material Highlights
- High Optical Transparency: Polycarbonate is naturally transparent and can transmit over 90% of visible light, making it suitable for applications where clarity is essential.
- Exceptional Impact Resistance: Recognized for outstanding toughness, PC offers very high impact resistance and is virtually unbreakable under normal usage conditions.
- High Rigidity and Structural Strength: Medical PC filament exhibits high flexural strength and modulus, providing rigid, dimensionally stable parts suitable for precision medical devices.
- Excellent Chemical Resistance: Resistant to most acids and many chemicals found in laboratory and medical environments, ensuring durability and safety in challenging applications.
- Heat and UV Resistance: Maintains mechanical properties and optical clarity at elevated temperatures (up to 135–147°C) and offers good resistance to degradation from ultraviolet light.
Mechanical properties
- Tensile Strength: 52 MPa
- Elongation at Break: 21%
- Flexural Strength: 82 MPa
- Flexural Modulus: 2193 MPa (2.193 GPa)
- Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT @ 66 psi): 143.7 °C
- Young’s Modulus: Approximately 2.13 to 2.25 GPa
- Impact Strength: 26.9 to 76.8 J/m
Applications
Medical PC Filament is engineered for functional, durable, and critical-use medical parts, including:
- Surgical instruments and guides
- Training and demonstration models
- Laboratory and microfluidic devices
- Fluid-handling components (body fluid containers)
- Precision machine parts (pump impellers, stirrers)
- Customized prosthetic and biomedical devices
3D Printing and
Processability
Printing Technology Compatibility
Medical PC filament is primarily used with Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) or Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers, which melt and extrude the filament layer by layer to create precise, functional parts.
Printing Temperature
Optimal extrusion temperatures for medical PC filament generally range between 260°C and 310°C, allowing the filament to melt properly while maintaining strength and layer adhesion. The printer bed temperature should be set around 90°C to 110°C to reduce warping and improve adhesion.
Print Speed
Due to its high melting point and viscosity, medical PC requires moderate print speeds, typically 30–60 mm/s, to ensure consistent extrusion and reduce print defects like stringing or warping.
Warpage and Shrinkage Control
Polycarbonate has a relatively high tendency to warp due to thermal contraction during cooling. Proper bed adhesion techniques such as using heated beds, build surfaces like PEI sheets or glass, and enclosure to maintain temperature stability are recommended.
Layer Adhesion and Strength
When printed using optimized parameters, PC filament provides excellent interlayer bonding, resulting in durable, tough parts.
Sterilisation
- PC medical filament is uniquely compatible with all major sterilization techniques, including autoclaving, due to its high thermal and dimensional stability.
- Unlike lower-temperature polymers, PC retains impact resistance and optical properties even after multiple sterilization cycles.
- The ability to use multiple sterilization methods allows flexible hospital workflows and broadens the use of PC parts for implants, surgical instruments, microfluidic devices, and other clinical applications.
What is PC filament 3D printing best used for in healthcare?
PC filament 3D printing is ideal for surgical guides, medical devices, and training models because medical PC is described as biocompatible, non-toxic, and chemically resistant, while still delivering rigidity, drillability, and strong impact performance.
Why choose Polycarbonate 3D print material over standard filaments for functional parts?
Polycarbonate 3D print material offers high optical transparency, excellent toughness, strong structural rigidity, and resistance to many lab chemicals. It also maintains properties at elevated temperatures, making it suitable when durability and dimensional stability matter.
Where can engineering PC filament India be useful in hospital R&D and labs?
Engineering PC filament India is useful for lab and microfluidic devices, fluid-handling components, and precision parts like pump impellers or stirrers. PC’s chemical resistance and strength support repeated use in demanding hospital and biomedical environments.
Is durable PC 3D printing filament for medical use compatible with sterilization?
Durable PC 3D printing filament for medical use is stated to be compatible with major sterilization techniques, including autoclaving, because of high thermal and dimensional stability. It can retain impact resistance and optical properties after multiple cycles.
How does high-impact PC 3D printing for functional parts reduce breakage risk?
High-impact PC 3D printing for functional parts helps because PC is highlighted for exceptional toughness and very high impact resistance, while maintaining rigidity. This combination supports long-lasting parts that face handling, drops, or mechanical stress.
What print settings work best for PC filament for industrial and medical 3D prints?
For PC filament for industrial and medical 3D prints, the page suggests extrusion around 260–310°C and bed temperature around 90–110°C, with moderate print speeds (30–60 mm/s) and enclosure/adhesion methods to reduce warping.
Why is high-heat resistant PC 3D printing material preferred for demanding environments?
High-heat resistant PC 3D printing material is valued because it can maintain mechanical properties and optical clarity at higher temperatures (noted up to about 135–147°C). That stability supports parts used near heat, sterilization, and intensive workflows.
Certifications
The biocompatible and non-toxic formulation, certified to USP
Class VI (USP 88)
Class VI (USP 88)
