EMERYVILLE, CA, June 30, 2022 – Zymergen Inc. announced an R&D supply agreement to provide Zymergen Z2 polyimide powder to 3D4Makers for use in high performance 3D printing applications. 3D4Makers will convert the powder to filament, offering its first-ever polyimide filament to customers for use across a wide range of applications including aerospace, automotive, and transportation.
Polyimide is a very high-strength polymer that is inherently flame retardant, has excellent insulating properties and excellent thermal stability. Zymergen Z2 polyimide is easy to 3D print and demonstrates low warp while having significant Z strength. The material has been tested by leading high-temperature 3D printing manufacturers miniFactory, Orion AM, Aon3D, and others.
Zymergen uses machine learning, genomics, and automation to look for biomolecules that perform better than petroleum-based chemicals. In this way, Zymergen aims to make bioinspired materials that are more efficient and designed to displace petroleum-based materials. Zymergen Z2 polymer has critical advantages for printing parts that require higher tensile strength and improved yield, showing significant improvement in tensile strength over incumbents.
“We are excited to partner with Zymergen to offer the high performance 3D printing materials to our customers,” said Jasper Willie, co-founder of 3D4Makers. “The ability to 3D print polyimide is a game-changer for the additive manufacturing industry. We believe this material has the potential to out-perform high-performance polymers like PEEK, PPSU and PEI in applications where high strength and high performance temperatures are required.”
“We at miniFactory really understand what our clients need from 3D printers and materials,” said Olli Pihlajamäki, COO at miniFactory. “Zymergen’s material has given us great results on the printer and testing. We’re really enthusiastic about the possibilities it gives to our customers.”
“At Zymergen, we partner with nature to design and produce molecules, microbes, and materials that can enable customers to create breakthrough products,” said Jay Flatley, Zymergen’s interim chief executive officer. “The market is hungry for a new generation of technology that will transform the way materials are manufactured. We are confident that Zymergen will be a significant contributor to that future.”
The terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
About Zymergen
Zymergen is a biotech company that designs and produces molecules, microbes and materials for diverse end markets. We partner with nature to make better products, a better way, for a better world.
For more information, visit www.zymergen.com.
About 3D4Makers
Netherlands-based 3D4Makers is a leader in high-performance 3D printing materials. The company is a material extrusion materials supplier to aviation, space, industrial and medical multinationals worldwide. In addition, racing teams, leading universities, national laboratories, and automotive companies all use 3D4Makers; high tolerance, high-performance filaments such as PEI, PEEK, PEKK, PPSU, PAHT, and more.
Read more at www.3d4makers.com.