Ultrafuse 17-4 PH BASF - 2.85mm - 1 kg

Use of BASF Ultrafuse® 17‑4 PH Filament

The Ultrafuse® 17‑4 PH filament is a specific metal 3D printing filament developed by BASF’s Forward AM division. It’s not meant to just give a metallic appearance, but to enable manufacturing of 100% stainless steel (Type 630) objects via a two‑step filament‑based process.

This Ultrafuse® 17‑4 PH filament is quite groundbreaking: it allows production of parts for sintering using a standard desktop FDM 3D printer. Sintering involves heating above 1000 °C to separate the plastic binder from the metal. Once the plastic is removed, the metal enters a fusion phase, restructuring into a fully metallic piece.

At this stage, one must account for dimensional shrinkage.

This two‑step process starts at home with printing the “green” or sintrable part and then going through an external service provider for the sintering step. This unique filament combined with a dedicated service provider allows minimizing production costs of your metal parts.

Thanks to this BASF 17‑4 PH filament, you can access metal printing technology by layer deposition without significant investment.

With high mechanical strength, resistance to temperatures up to 315 °C, and corrosion resistance, parts printed in 3D with the 17‑4 PH are ideal for the automotive, petrochemical, aerospace, and medical sectors.

Highlights of BASF Ultrafuse® 17‑4 PH

Accessible metal printing: This 17‑4 PH filament (named after the stainless steel it comprises) is developed by BASF and is the first filament enabling reliable printing of sinterable metal parts. Available for most FDM 3D printers, this two‑step manufacturing process is fast, efficient, and affordable.

Superior printability and higher hardness: The highly composite design features a plastic matrix that ensures smooth flow, efficient extrusion, and strong interlayer bonding despite the high metal content. Compared to other filaments, the 17‑4 PH shows less warping and improved mechanical performance.

Optimized sintering method: Using Ultrafuse® 17‑4 PH makes a tailored sintering solution accessible. By using dedicated sintering coupons (1 coupon = 1 kg of parts to be sintered), you benefit from a complete, fast solution.

If you’d like to learn more, we invite you to consult the downloadable guides and discover the coupon system in the dedicated product page.

Recommendations for using BASF Ultrafuse® 17‑4 PH

The Ultrafuse® 17‑4 PH filament requires adapted settings. It’s recommended to use existing print profiles to meet this filament's specific constraints. Printing must be precise and consistent, with correct infill density, shell thickness, flow rate, and other parameters — essential for the second processing phase.

Specific support strategies are needed, and dual‑extrusion helps for the support removal step. The 17‑4 PH works with most FDM/FFF printers but is best suited to professional-grade machines. Take care not to exceed the recommended extrusion temperature to avoid toxicity.

Using a specific bed adhesive like Magigoo Metal is also recommended to prevent part lifting during printing. A hardened steel nozzle is strongly advised due to the abrasive nature of this 3D filament.

Please refer to the attached documents for essential data and printing parameters for this specialized filament. We are, of course, available to support and guide you in its use.