Š Fraunhofer IAP
Opening photo: Complex AM-fabricated parts dry after their metallization.
INNOVATIONS: PRESENT&FUTURE
S P E C I A L O N RAW M ATE RI ALS, PIGMENTS, PA I NT & C O ATI NG TECHNOLOGIES
Lacquering Before Polishing: Technical Coatings for Additive Manufacturing Sandra Mehlhase Fraunhofer IAP, Potsdam-Golm – Germany
info@iap.fraunhofer.de
A
dditive Manufacturing (AM)
In a joint project, researchers from the
stereolithography (SLA) or material
has many advantages: custom
Belgian NPO Sirris and the Fraunhofer
jetting (MJ) play important roles in the AM
manufacturing, flexible production
Institute for Applied Polymer Research
market. While the first AM technologies
and easy customization, for example.
IAP have investigated technical coatings
were developed for rapid prototyping,
Yet many products have a high surface
for additive manufacturing (TCAM) with
today, AM is taking the leap into industrial
roughness and porosity. The post
promising results.
production. It is one of the important
processing of the thus fabricated parts is
AM describes the construction of
future technologies that will influence
time consuming and often a significant cost
an object layer by layer using a
the manufacturing market and beyond.
factor for manufacturers. Technical coatings
3D-model. The technologies vary but
The industry can profit from AM with its
open up new possibilities for the AM
3D printing is probably the best known.
production on-demand capabilities, its and
market, especially in industrial production.
However, selective laser sintering (SLS),
flexible adaptability and the possibility to
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N. 55 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 - international PAINT&COATING magazine