German specialty chemicals company Evonik is intensifying its cooperation with US computer and printer business HP to develop powders for 3D printing. The Essen-based company will place its PA 12 powder Vestosint 3D Z2773 on HP’s Open Platform, where suppliers can certify materials to run on HP Jet Fusion 3D printers. The new powder is said to have superior mechanical properties and, according to Evonik, components printed on the basis of Vestosint can be approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for food contact.

“Through the close partnership  with HP and our active participation in the Open Platform program we anticipate further impetus in the development of new plastic powders for 3D printing use,” said Matthias Kottenhahn, head of Evonik’s High Performance Polymers business line. Evonik is currently expanding capacity of its Vestosint PA 12 powders at Marl, Germany, where an additional production line will raise output by 50% when it starts up in late 2017. PA 12 powders are said to be particularly suited for use in the 3D processes of selective laser sintering and high speed sintering.

The German company’s collaboration mirrors that of French chemical producer Arkema, which announced in May that it was working with HP and would use the platform to leverage its portfolio of materials in new 3D printing applications.According to UK consultancy Smithers Pira, the global 3D printing market will grow at an annual compound rate of nearly 24% in the ten years to 2025, when it will be worth $49 billion.