solvents for additive manufacturing

What Are The Best Solvents For Additive Manufacturing?

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Solvents for additive manufacturing or 3D printing are required to properly clean and maintain your printing equipment after use to prevent damage and keep the machinery running in top shape. The most effective way to clean your additive manufacturing equipment is with a chemical solvent that has strong degreasing properties that can easily breakdown and remove any leftover resin from the surface of your printer. One of the most popular chemical solvents for additive manufacturing is isopropyl alcohol (IPA). There are also many low VOC IPA alternatives that can be used to remove resin, however a final rinse with IPA is still recommended to finish cleaning. Some of the most popular IPA alternative solvents for additive manufacturing are dimethyl ester based solvents like dimethyl adipate. When deciding on a cleaning solvent for your additive manufacturing business you should understand the differences between IPA and low VOC dimethyl ester based solvents.

IPA vs Dimethyl Ester

  • IPA – IPA is one of the most popular cleaning agents for 3D printing devices for several reasons. IPA has low water content and a high evaporation rate. This protects the machinery from being damaged by any left behind moisture that can occur with more water based cleaning agents. IPA also acts as a strong degreaser that can completely dissolve and remove leftover solvents. IPA is not considered to be a low VOC solvent but requires minimal safety gear for handling.
  • Dimethyl Ester – These low VOC solvents are generally considered to be safer and less flammable than more volatile chemicals like IPA. Dimethyl ester solvents have a lower evaporation rate than IPA, but this does allow for excess solvent to be recycled and reused, which helps to save money. Dimethyl ester solvents will effectively clean the surface of your equipment, but it is recommended to do final rinse with IPA after cleaning with these low VOC solvents to remove any leftover resin particles.

Shopping for Solvents for Additive Manufacturing?

If you are in need of solvents for additive manufacturing, we are here to help! Ecolink is an environmentally conscious provider of chemical solvents that has the knowledge and ability to help you find the best product for your needs. Ecolink can also provide bulk quantities. To learn more about Ecolink and solvents for additive manufacturing, contact us today.

additive-manufacturing

What Is Additive Manufacturing?

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If you work in industrial production or manufacturing you may be wondering, what is additive manufacturing? Additive manufacturing, also known as 3D printing and a huge digital advancement in production in which digital designs are realized and turned into physical objects with CAD software and a 3D printing device. This style of production allows parts and items to be made faster, stronger, and lighter. In additive manufacturing, or 3D printing, the printer uses a heated nozzle and a polymer or resin to build the object layer by layer. These layers of resin then cool and harden creating a usable part or product. Additive manufacturing has become very popular in the world of industrial production, and when using this style of 3D printing, it is very important that you perform regular cleaning and maintenance to keep your machinery free of damaging, resin build up or spills. 

How to Keep Additive Manufacturing Equipment Clean?

In order to avoid damage and keep your 3D printing device running at its most efficient level it is important to clean the printer after use to remove any hardened resin from the surface. Resins and polymers are thick and harden quickly, so you will need to find a chemical solvent that can easily dissolve leftover resin, without harming the printer. The best solution to use for resin removal is IPA (Isopropyl Alcohol). IPA is ideal for resin removal due to its strong degreasing properties. IPA will break down and remove resin, leaving behind a clean surface for the next project. IPA is also safe to use on printing equipment. IPA has a high evaporation rate and low water content which will ensure no damage is caused from moisture exposure or pooling.

Need to Buy IPA?

If you are in need of IPA to clean your additive manufacturing equipment, Ecolink can help! Ecolink is a trusted provider of chemicals and solvents who will supply you with a high quality product for an affordable cost. Ecolink will work with you to ensure that you find the best solvent for your needs, and can even provide bulk quantities. Contact us today to learn more.

resin-removal

Is IPA a Good Solvent for Resin Removal?

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IPA is a common chemical solvent often used to clean and degrease industrial machinery, but is IPA a good solvent for resin removal? The answer is yes. If you are using 3D or SLA printers in your line of work, you know that these printers must be cleaned after use to remove any leftover resin or build up. Resin build up and spills, if not properly cleaned and removed, can cause damage or impact the functionality of your 3D printer, so it is important that these machines are cleaned with a chemical solvent as part of regular maintenance. IPA is recommended for resin removal on 3D printers for many reasons. IPA is affordable, effective, and will not damage your 3D printing equipment.

Why is IPA a Good Solvent for Resin Removal?

  • Cost Effective – Compared to similar degreasing chemicals, IPA is not only less harsh, but it is more affordable when compared to IPA alternatives.
  • Safe to Use – IPA has a high evaporation rate and low water content which prevents equipment from being damaged by moisture or pooling.
  • Powerful Degreaser – IPA is great for degreasing and degumming, and can easily cut through and dissolve leftover resin build up, leaving behind a clean surface.

Need to Buy IPA for Resin Removal?

If you are looking to purchase IPA, you want to be sure find a knowledgeable chemical provider who will supply you with a high purity, affordable, solvent that is right for your needs. When you work with Ecolink, you will receive all of this and more. Ecolink is an environmentally conscious provider of chemical solvents who will supply you with a high quality product and the necessary knowledge for safe use and handling. Ecolink also has the ability to fill and ship bulk orders, so iff you would like to learn more about Ecolink and IPA for resin removal, contact us today! 

resin-removal-3d-printing

What Is The Best Solvent for Resin Removal for 3D Printing?

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Resin removal for 3D printing is a necessary cleaning process that removes any left-over resins after printing. 3D printers must be cleaned after each use as part of regular maintenance, to keep your 3D printer functioning at its best ability. The resin that is used to produce 3D printed objects is thick and hardens quickly, therefore you will need to find a chemical solvent that can easily break up and remove any leftover particles from your printer, without damaging the machine. When looking for chemicals or solvents to remove resin, you want to be sure you find a solvent that is effective and will evaporate quickly to prevent damage. For these reasons many 3D printers use IPA (isopropyl alcohol) to clean 3D printing equipment. 

Benefits of IPA Resin Removal for 3D Printing:

  • High Evaporation Rate – Industrial IPA used to clean and degrease machinery, like 3D printers, contains very little water, which allows it to evaporate quickly. Quick evaporation prevents pooling or prolonged exposure to moisture that could damage your printer.
  • Safety – IPA is generally safe to use when handled properly and requires very little safety gear for use.
  • Effective – IPA is a strong cleaning and degreasing agent that can easily break up resins, grease, or gummy substances that can gather on machinery with continual use. Regularly cleaning printers and machines with IPA will prevent buildup that could cause damage or impact your machine’s performance.

Where to Find High Purity IPA for Resin Removal: 

If you are interested in using IPA for Resin Removal for 3D Printing, Ecolink can provide you with the right purity and quantity for your needs. We are an environmentally conscious provider of chemicals and solvents, like IPA, for industrial needs. Ecolink also has the ability to provide and ship bulk quantities. From 5 gallon buckets to 55 gallon drums, Ecolink has you covered. Contact our knowledgeable customer service team today to learn more or shop our high purity IPA here!

Best-oil-extracting-solvents

What Is Hexane Extraction?

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Hexane extraction is a form of oil extraction that uses the chemical solvent hexane and evaporation to pull the oils from various oil seeds, fruits, nuts, and olives to create cooking oils. There are several different processes that are used to extract oil that involve pressing or squeezing to extract, but hexane extraction is much faster and efficient, especially if you have the need to produce large quantities of oil.  With hexane extraction the oil seed is ground up and soaked in the solvent. As the solvent evaporates it leaves behind the oil that can then be turned into edible cooking oils such as olive oil, canola oil, or sunflower seed oil. This is the fastest and easiest method to extract a large amount of oil in a short amount of time.

Why is Hexane a Preferred Solvent for Extraction?

While many solvents can be used for extraction, hexane is preferred for several reasons. Hexane has a low toxicity level and produces no hazardous or poisonous fumes that could pose a threat to the user.  Hexane also has a rapid evaporation rate and low boiling point that allows the maximum amount of oil to be quickly and effectively extracted from the oilseed. Another major benefit of hexane extraction is that the chemical solvent hexane does not disturb the nutritional value of food that you are extracting oil from. 

Where to Find Hexane for Extraction? 

If you are in need of hexane for extraction, you will want to find a reliable chemical provider that will supply you with high purity hexane for an affordable cost. Ecolink is a long time, environmentally friendly, chemical provider and we can help with all of your chemical needs. We can provide high purity hexane, such as 99% pure food grade hexane for extraction at an affordable rate. We also offer bulk quantities that help cut costs and ensure high production facilities will always have enough of their necessary solvents on hand. If you are interested in learning more about Hexane and Ecolink, contact us today!