As the industrialized nations of the world work to ween themselves off of fossil fuels, it will be important to find manufacturing materials that aren’t derived from oil. UK-based Biome Bioplastics is attempting to get an edge in this important market by creating sustainable polymers made from plants. And, in seeking to replace unsustainable plastics in the 3D printing industry, they’ve released, at the TCT Show this year, a biodegradable plastic filament called Biom3D, which they believe will adequately supplant other materials made from oil.
Working with 3Dom Filaments, the bioplastic developer has launched what they believe to be a biodegradable filament that yields better print finishes and is easier for 3D printers to process, leading to higher printing speeds. Biome acknowledges that plant-based plastics, like PLA, are already popular in the 3D printing community, as they are easy and relatively safe to work with, but also understands why plastics derived from oil, like ABS, are also used for their higher softening points and flexibility. For that reason, Biome3D is a plant-based plastic that has been designed to have the structural qualities of polymers made from oil. The material, Biome suggests, has a better finish and flexibility than PLA, while being easy to process and faster to print.
Sales Director at Biome Bioplastics, Sally Morley, elaborates, “The future of bioplastics lies in demonstrating that plant-based materials can outperform their traditional, oil-based counterparts. Our new material for the 3D printing market exemplifies that philosophy. Biome3D combines the best processing qualities with the best product finish; it also happens to be made from natural, renewable resources.”
As a developer of sustainable biopolymers, the company released a material for compostable single-serve coffee pods last year. With solutions for a growing number of industries, from catering to electronics, the company’s new Biome3D filament has gotten their foot in the door of the 3D printing field. Anticipating both the increasing implementation of 3D printing worldwide and the need to find renewable materials with which to print, Biome may establish itself as an important materials provider in the industry. You can learn more about them at their website or, if you’re lucky enough to be at TCT, stop by their booth.
