“Using revolutionary new processes such
as additive manufacturing will open up
completely new ways of using the same
types of materials that we have today, by
building in the properties that we need.”
“Sandvik’s 3D printed diamond composite
is a true innovation. It means that we can
begin to use diamond in applications and
shapes never conceived possible before,”
said Susanne Norgren, Adjunct Professor
in Applied Materials Science at Uppsala
University. “Just imagine what it could do
to industries, when it is possible to print
anything, in any shape – in diamond.”
Sustainable with superior properties
Another key advantage of additive
manufacturing is that it allows engineers
to minimize material waste, making the
technology more sustainable. The diamond
powder in Sandvik’s process can be
extracted from the polymer in the slurry
after the printing, and then be recycled and
reused in another print-job.
The diamond composite has been tested
and found to have extremely high hardness,
exceptional heat conductivity, while
also possessing low density, very good
thermal expansion and fantastic corrosion
resistance.
“We now have the ability to create strong
diamond composites in very complex
shapes through additive manufacturing,
which fundamentally will change the way
industries will be able to use this material.
As of now, the only limit to how this super-
hard material can be shaped and used is
down to the designer’s imagination,” Mikael
Schuisky concluded.
Diamond is harder than anything
else in nature.
Sandvik’s 3D printed diamond
composite was created using the
additive manufacturing process called
stereolithography, where complex
parts are produced, layer by layer,
using ultraviolet light.
A slurry containing diamond powder
and polymer is used in the process.
After the printing, the next step in the
process is even more demanding. This
is the critical step where Sandvik has
developed, a tailor-made, proprietary
post processing method that is able
to produce the exact properties of the
diamond composite.
Excess printing slurry can be reused
to reduce waste – and the diamond
powder can also be extracted from
the slurry and then recycled, making
the method more sustainable.
Sandvik has a patent pending for the
diamond composite process.
More information about the world’s
first printed diamond composite
and Sandvik’s capabilities in
additive manufacturing can
be found on Sandvik Additive
Manufacturing’s website: additive.
sandvik
Issue 39 PECM
19