By Bill Bregar
SENIOR STAFF REPORTER
Published: September 24, 2014 9:16 am ET
Updated: September 24, 2014 9:23 am ET

Image By: Eastman Chemical Co.
Eastman Chemical Co. and Helian Polymers have launched Amphora, a new material for 3-D printers.

Eastman Chemical Co. and Helian Polymers, the Dutch Maker of masterbatches and biopolymers, have teamed to launch a new material for 3-D printing: colorFABB XT-Copolyester made with Eastman’s Amphora 3-D polymer.

Eastman displayed the material at the 3D Printshow, held in London Sept. 4-6, printing puzzle pieces that were joined together to create a chair used in the booth. The process uses extrusion-based filaments for the 3-D printing.

The low-odor, styrene-free polymer gives benefits of air quality, dimensional stability and regulatory compliance, according to Eastman.

Kingsport, Tenn.-based Eastman and Helian, in Venlo, the Netherlands, began developing colorFABB XT in 2013. Now Eastman officials are looking at future tailored options, such as color and texture.

“Taking advantage of new, better-performing materials is the advancement the 3-D printing industry needs to venture out of laboratories and into small businesses, schools and homes,” said Ruud Rouleaux, Helian polymer’s managing director.

www.eastman.com; www.helianpolymers.com; www.colorfabb.com.