Innovation in Pellet-Based 3D Printing: The Sustainable and High-Performance Solution to Replace Lead in Medical and Industrial Applications
The search for safe and sustainable alternatives to lead, traditionally used for radiological shielding, has driven innovation towards more efficient and less impactful solutions. LATI3Dlab, in collaboration with 3DKG, has developed technology that combines the benefits of radiation-shielding thermoplastic compounds with pellet-based 3D printing. The result? Precise, dense, and completely lead-free components, ideal for medical and industrial applications.
LATIGRAY: the sustainable radiopaque solution
A material’s X-ray opacity depends on its density. Traditionally, lead has been the preferred metal for these applications due to its high density and ease of processing. However, its toxicity has made the search for safer alternatives urgent. LATI has responded to this need with LATIGRAY, a range of radiopaque and radiation-shielding thermoplastic compounds for injection molding, capable of delivering excellent shielding without compromising sustainability.
However, the cost of molds has been the main barrier to adopting plastic shielding compounds as a replacement for sheet metal, particularly in small production runs often required for medical equipment.
This is where 3D printing comes into play, eliminating the need for expensive molds and offering flexibility and reduced production times.
A collaboration that simplifies radiopaque shielding
3DKG, an Italian company specializing in 3D printing, has developed a proprietary process enabling the direct printing of various types of compound or polymer without using filaments. The process doses the necessary amount of molten material directly from a specialized extruder head, starting from plastic pellets.
The selected compound was LATIGRAY 82-03 AM CW/95, a formulation based on PA12 loaded with 95% tungsten powder. The challenge was met by combining the material’s shielding properties, with a density close to 10 kg/dm³, with 3DKG’s exceptional printing process.
The printed collimator supports proved to be:
- Dimensionally precise, without deformation
- Compact, essential for effective shielding
- Mechanically robust, thanks to perfect layer adhesion during the printing process
- X-ray shielding equivalent to the same thickness of lead
[Explore the LATIGRAY 82-03 AM CW/95 product sheet]
LATIGRAY 82-03 AM CW/95 is also available in filament form for FFF printing. Contact LATI3Dlab technicians for more information.
LATI3Dlab and 3DKG mark a step forward in replacing lead with safer and more sustainable solutions. Pellet-based 3D printing is confirmed as a promising technology, capable of combining performance, precision, and production flexibility.
Continuous innovation in plastics
LATI’s range of special products, including grades formulated by LATI3Dlab, offers solutions for every need—from tungsten-filled filaments to formulations for pellet-based 3D printing. Visit the dedicated page to learn more about 3D printing materials and radiopaque solutions.
