Applications
Various applications can be envisaged with the smart technologies or polymers of MatX. The possibilities are endless when you consider the benefits of for example improving blood flow or anti-microbial material. Focusing on that, possibilities are objects and tools that help restore or improve the performance of the human body.
Example: Coffee cup
Another example is the creation of a fully biodegradable coffee cup. This coffee cup is 3D printed with the MatX biodegradable material (*4), which is biodegradable among other things, and degrades in just several weeks under home compostable circumstances. That is an enormous progress compared to a standard coffee cup of which the breakdown process takes 50 years to never… In this way it is possible to sort the coffee cups with the organic waste because it is not harmful to nature. This would make a huge difference because of the immeasurable number of coffee cups that are consumed daily.
Example: Brace
For example, a wrist brace. Because of MatX it is no longer necessary to be produced three-dimensionally, because of the polymer that makes it possible to deform printed objects. A two-dimensional object is sufficient, because the material can be molded around the wrist to the unique shape with the help of water at a temperature of 55 °C. Next to the benefits that this production process is easier and cheaper, it also reduces the chance of sharp edges.
Because the material can also be anti-microbial, the production of medical devices and tools with 3D printers becomes very interesting. Something that is often not possible with regular filaments due to the danger of bacteria that accumulate between the build-up lines during the 3D printing process. Due to the anti-microbial material, bacteria that encounter the object will have hardly any chance of survival.
Example: Soles
Another example are soles for shoes. It is possible to print the (unique) sole in 2D. With the use of the deformable polymer of MatX with printing, the sole will be deformable which will give the possibility to correct any error margins. Sharp edges will also be no problem, as these can easily be rubbed away after heating the object. In this way you can create a perfect customized sole for the shoes.
*4: According to TÜV AUSTRIA, MatX is certificated to use the conformity mark ‘OK compost HOME’.