ESD Safe 3D Printing Materials and How They Work

Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) safe 3D printing materials are specially engineered polymers designed to safely dissipate static electricity, protecting sensitive electronic components and assemblies from damage caused by sudden static discharges. These materials incorporate conductive additives like carbon nanotubes or carbon fibers, which provide controlled electrical conductivity or electrostatic dissipation.

Why ESD Safe Materials Matter

Static electricity buildup can harm delicate electronic circuits and components during manufacturing, assembly, or handling. Using ESD safe materials for 3D printing jigs, fixtures, housings, and tools helps prevent electrostatic discharge events that can degrade or destroy sensitive electronics. This protection is critical in industries like electronics manufacturing, clean rooms, aerospace, and automotive sectors where reliability and safety are paramount.

Understanding Surface Resistivity

Surface resistivity is a key property defining an ESD safe material’s performance. It measures the resistance to electrical current flowing along the surface of a material and is expressed in ohms per square (Ω/sq). Unlike volume resistivity, surface resistivity only relates to conductivity across the 2D surface layer. Materials with high surface resistivity are insulative, while those with low resistivity become conductive.

For ESD safe materials, an ideal surface resistivity range typically falls between 10^4 and 10^9 Ω/sq. This range allows the material to dissipate static charges effectively without becoming fully conductive. If the surface resistivity gets too low (below about 10^4 Ω/sq), the material risks behaving like a conductor, which can cause unwanted current flow and damage. Conversely, if resistivity is too high, static charge will not dissipate efficiently.

Applications for ESD Safe 3D Printing Materials

ESD safe filaments are ideal for:

• Electronic housings and enclosures

• Printed circuit board (PCB) storage and transport components

• Jigs, fixtures, and assembly tools in electronics manufacturing

• Cleanroom-compatible parts where static control is essential

• Structural components in industrial and automotive sectors requiring both mechanical strength and static dissipation

Polymaker’s ESD Safe Materials: Fiberon™ PETG-ESD and PA612-ESD

Polymaker offers two notable ESD-safe 3D printing filaments:

1. Fiberon™ PETG-ESD:

• PETG base infused with carbon nanotubes for electrostatic dissipation

• Surface resistivity around 10^4 to 10^7 Ω/sq, providing reliable ESD protection

• Suitable for electronic housings and fixtures

• Recommended print temperature: 250 to 290°C with bed temperature 70 to 80°C

• Higher print temperatures reduce surface resistivity, aiding dissipation

1. Fiberon™ PA612-ESD:

• Nylon (PA612) composite filament reinforced with carbon nanotubes and 10% carbon fiber

• Offers high mechanical strength (84 MPa tensile strength), dimensional accuracy, and heat resistance (HDT up to 157°C)

• Surface resistivity between 10^4 and 10^7 Ω/sq suitable for static protection

• Ideal for PCBs, enclosures, industrial jigs and fixtures, and cleanroom tools

• Prints at 280 to 300°C with bed temperature 40 to 50°C

• Printing at higher temperatures (e.g., 320°C) can lower resistivity further, potentially making parts conductive

How Printing Temperature Affects Resistivity

Both Fiberon PETG-ESD and PA612-ESD show a trend where increasing print temperature lowers the surface resistivity. This means parts printed hotter have better ESD dissipation properties. However, for PA612-ESD, printing at excessively high temperatures (around 320°C) may reduce resistivity so much that the material behaves more like a conductor rather than just dissipative, which might not be desirable depending on application needs.