Antero 840CN03 Deep Dive: Strengths, Applications, Limitations & More
Antero 840CN03 is an engineered thermoplastic specifically designed for Stratasys F900 and Fortus 450mc FDM 3D printers. Antero 800NA is Stratasys' trade name for PEKK (of the same chemical family as PEEK), a robust thermoplastic known for its exceptional heat resistance, chemical resistance, and strength properties.
840CN03 is a variant enhanced with a unique additive: carbon nanotubes. This addition makes the plastic mildly conductive, allowing it to safely dissipate static and other electrical charges, rather than accumulating them for a potentially shocking discharge—much like a static shock you might feel after touching a doorknob while wearing thick socks in winter. This special feature is a key reason why Antero 840CN03 is popular in the aerospace and oil and gas industries.
This article discusses everything you should know about Antero 840CN03 to determine if it is suitable for your applications.
Key Strengths
Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Compliance
- Primary feature: meets ESD-safe requirements, protecting sensitive electronics from static discharge.
- Surface resistivity: Between 10⁶ to 10⁹ ohms/square.
High Heat Resistance
- Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): ~160–165°C.
- Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT): >150°C under load.
- Ideal for high-temp environments, including engine compartments and aerospace interiors.
Chemical Resistance
- Excellent resistance to hydrocarbons, solvents, jet fuel, and hydraulic fluids.
- Suitable for use in chemically aggressive environments (e.g., aircraft fuel systems).
Dimensional Stability & Low Outgassing
- Minimal warping and high-dimensional accuracy, even under thermal cycling.
- Low outgassing, meeting NASA specifications, crucial for space applications.
High Strength & Durability
- Offers strong mechanical properties similar to unfilled PEKK, but with slightly reduced ductility due to the nanotube content.
- High wear and fatigue resistance.
Limitations
High Cost
- It is more expensive than common thermoplastics (e.g., ABS, Nylon, even Ultem).
- Typically, only justified for mission-critical applications.
Challenging Printability
- Requires industrial-grade FDM printers (e.g., Stratasys Fortus 450mc or F900).
- Needs a heated build chamber (~200°C) and high nozzle temperatures (~380–400°C).
- Warping and layer adhesion must be tightly controlled.
Reduced Ductility
- The carbon nanotubes reduce ductility compared to Antero 800NA (unfilled PEKK).
- More brittle under impact or vibration compared to some other aerospace-grade polymers.
Limited Color and Aesthetic Appeal
- Only available in black, with a matte finish.
- Not suited for aesthetic or consumer-facing parts.
Best-Suited Printing Applications
Antero 840CN03 shines for high-value, mission-critical parts that require ESD safety, high-temperature tolerance, chemical resistance, and low outgassing. Low-volume and high-complexity applications are best for FDM in general, but even more so for Antero 840CN03 (mainly due to cost). The aerospace industry tends to meet this criterion, with applications like interior components such as ducting, brackets, wire guides, or enclosures exposed to fuel or hydraulic fluids. Satellites and launch vehicles, as well as interior cabin parts, which often require low outgassing and electrostatic dissipativity, are also good aerospace applications.
The ESD properties of Antero 840CN03 are ideal for PCB and other static-sensitive part handling, such as the fixtures, jigs, tooling, robotic end-effectors, and dunnage found in automotive and electronics manufacturing. This electrostatic conductivity also has defense applications for shielded enclosures requiring EMI/RFI protection. These properties, combined with the heat and chemical resistance of PEKK, make this a suitable material for hazardous environments, especially those requiring frequent sterilization and/or proximity to sensitive electronic equipment.
Proven Use Cases
- Lockheed Martin and Boeing have used Antero 840CN03 for lightweight, chemically resistant brackets and enclosures in satellites and aircraft.
- NASA has qualified Antero 840CN03 for use in low Earth orbit (LEO), due to its low outgassing and thermal performance.
- Electronics manufacturers use it for repeat-use tooling that requires ESD-safe properties, reducing the need for secondary coatings or metal inserts.
Lockheed Martin Space has seven 3D printers in its Additive Manufacturing Lab, the latest of which is the Stratasys Fortus 900mc™, with its higher thermal capability and ability to print larger parts. With each capsule newly constructed for that flight, the importance of repeatability takes on a new significance.
Stratasys has performed a study on ULTEM™ 9085 resin, FDM® Nylon 12CF, and Antero™ 840CN03 to determine their fatigue properties. The samples for these tests were printed by Stratasys on an in-house F900® 3D printer and tested externally by a certified testing facility.
This study was conducted to characterize the chemical resistance properties of the Antero 840CN03 material formulation when exposed to representative chemicals commonly found in the aviation industry such as jet fuel, hydraulic fluid, and various acids, bases, and solvents.
Conclusion
Antero 840CN03 is an advanced thermoplastic for FDM 3D printing with applications far beyond the aerospace industry for which it was designed. If the parts you need require any combination of strength, chemical resistance, wear resistance, ESD-safety, heat resistance, and/or low outgassing, this is the material for you.
Questions?
If you have questions or would like to learn more about Antero 840CN03 or any other Stratasys 3D printing material, please contact us.
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About Joseph Miller
Joseph Miller is a 3D Printer Technical Support Specialist based out of Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Brigham Young University in 2008 and a Master’s degree from Capella University in 2013. Joseph has been working in the Additive Manufacturing industry for over 12 years and has been part of the GoEngineer family since 2019.
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