BASF® Ultrafuse 316L Steel

This is a new industrial-grade metal filament for professional uses. Created by BASF, Ultrafuse 316L filament is composed of 90% stainless steel and 10% polymer binder which allows it to be used in FDM printers. The material is characterized by its impressive mechanical properties and low cost of production, making it one of the most affordable materials for metal 3D printing. The printed part is in a "green state" and must undergo a debinding process to remove the polymer binding agent. After debinding, the part is relatively porous and requires a sintering process to produce a solid, dense part. While the sintered part is ready for use, additional post-processing is possible to create the desired surface quality with polishing, milling, heat-treatment, or coating. Ultrafuse steel has a similar tensile strength but lower yield strength compared to DMLS printed steel.