New material combines true silicone performance with precision 3D printing to meet demanding needs in automotive, healthcare, consumer goods, and industrial sectors
Stratasys announced the commercial launch of P3™ Silicone 25A, a high-performance material developed through a strategic collaboration with Shin-Etsu, a global leader in silicone science. Designed exclusively for the Stratasys Origin® DLP platform, this general-purpose silicone enables production of flexible parts that match the performance of traditionally molded silicone.
The new material addresses a longstanding gap in industrial 3D printing – the need for genuine silicone parts that offer precision, durability and repeatability, without the time and cost constraints of injection molding. P3 Silicone 25A delivers the chemical resistance, thermal stability, and mechanical behavior of conventional silicones, while enabling manufacturers to eliminate tooling, reduce lead times, and support localized, low-volume production. The material has been validated in thermal aging tests up to 1,000 hours at 150°C and passed biocompatibility and flame retardancy certification.
As manufacturers seek to customize products, streamline inventory, and accelerate time to market, silicone has become essential for applications such as seals, gaskets, vibration dampers, wearables, and soft-touch components. Until now, few 3D printing materials have matched the performance of traditionally molded silicones. P3 Silicone 25A brings together Stratasys’ production-grade P3™ DLP technology and Shin-Etsu’s expertise in silicone chemistry to deliver a robust solution for end-use silicone parts.
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“The proliferation of additive manufacturing in production environments depends on specialty materials that perform to the standards of traditional methods,” said Rich Garrity, Chief Business Unit Officer, Stratasys. “Our collaboration with Shin-Etsu delivers precisely that. P3 Silicone 25A gives manufacturers the flexibility of additive with the trusted performance of true silicone—backed by repeatable results and real-world data.”
The launch marks the first in a planned portfolio of silicone materials co-developed by Stratasys and Shin-Etsu, with additional hardness levels and application-specific variants expected in the future.
“We are excited and proud to be working with Stratasys, the global leader in additive manufacturing, to bring 3D printable true silicone to market and grow together,” said Makoto Ohara, Head of Sales and Marketing Department S4, Shin-Etsu Silicones Europe B.V. “P3 Silicone 25A combines excellent physical properties and long-term reliability with detailed and precise printability. It can rightly be considered ‘true silicone’ in both composition and performance.”
Source: Businesswire