Scientists from Tomsk State University have developed a composite material for 3D printing with magnetic properties. Radio physicists created plastic filaments with added barium hexaferrite powder and studied their mechanical, magnetic, and electromagnetic characteristics in the extremely high-frequency range.
The researchers manufactured a filament from ASA polymer with added ferrite powder and found that it selectively absorbs electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of about 49 GHz. This property is retained in finished 3D-printed products, and its intensity depends on the concentration of hexaferrite. However, as noted by TSU, increasing the proportion of powder leads to a decrease in mechanical strength, so for each product, a balance between strength and electromagnetic characteristics must be found.
The scientists independently go through the entire technological cycle – from the synthesis of ferrite powders to obtaining the finished filament on their own extrusion line. In the future, they plan to create a set of filaments with various electromagnetic properties to manufacture not only household items but also functional elements of radio-electronic devices – filters, sensors, and antennas – using 3D printing.