BELGIAN 3D printing company, i.materliaise, has developed a rubber-like material, which is currently being tried out for various designs and product applications.
The company pioneers the malleable black substance, likewise inviting makers and printing enthusiasts to try out the material.
According to i.materialise, the material, which is initially available in one colour (black), has already been made into accessories used in “fashion catwalks in the form of Iris van Herpen and Julia Koerner’s creations”.
It is suited for designs requiring shock absorption, gadgets and functional designs, as well as models that are squeezable, says the company, which is also putting the material on trial until 1st September 1st and over this period, rubber-like will cost EUR3 (US£2.57) per cubic centimetre, plus EUR5 handling costs per model.
The black dye in the material is a post treatment, however, it means the latter is not as elastic as actual rubber and although it is flexible it does have its limits.
Rubber-like is not yet available in the US, and can customers are not yet allowed to import objects made from this material into the US – the two issues i.materialise is working to resolve at the moment.