{"id":10217,"date":"2025-12-12T08:22:18","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T07:22:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prototal.info\/industrial-3d-printing\/polymer\/post-processing\/vapour-smoothing\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T11:58:42","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T09:58:42","slug":"vapour-smoothing","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/prototal.info\/uk\/services\/industrial-3d-printing\/polymer\/post-processing\/vapour-smoothing\/","title":{"rendered":"Vapour Smoothing"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Vapour Smoothing Services for Industrial Polymers<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Elevate your Powder Bed Fusion 3d printed parts (SLS, FDR & MJF) with an advanced surface finish process. Achieve a fully sealed, injection molding aesthetic that enhances hygiene and performance through controlled molecular smoothing. <\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n <\/div>\n

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Vapour Smoothing is Powered by<\/h3>\n\n
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What is Vapour Smoothing?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This chemical vapour smoothing process places parts in a sealed processing chamber where a specialized vapourized agent circulates. Acting as a controlled chemical melt, this agent interacts with the outer “skin” of the polymer, allowing the surface material to redistribute and flow into the microscopic “valleys” of the part \u2013 leaving a perfectly sealed, smooth surface that is both glossy and uniform. Because this is a gaseous process, it reaches every internal channel and complex lattice structure with total uniformity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fluid and Airtight Sealing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By fusing the surface pores, parts become naturally waterproof and airtight \u2014 the gold standard for manifolds, tanks, ducting, and fluid transfer pipes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Enhanced Hygiene<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

By removing the surface porosity, bacteria and contaminants have no place to harbor. This makes the process essential for Medical and Food-Contact applications. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mechanical Ductility<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The vapour-phase refinement can improve elongation-at-break, enhancing the mechanical properties of the part by making it slightly more flexible and resilient compared to raw prints. This means the process improves both the aesthetic and mechanical properties of a component in a single step. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Internal Channel Refining<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Unlike mechanical finishing, the gas reaches deep inside complex internal geometries that physical media cannot touch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

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Vapour Smoothing at a Glance<\/h3>\n\n
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Feature<\/th>Prototal Vapour Smooting Capability<\/th>Benefit<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Primary Goal<\/td>Surface Sealing & Smoothing<\/td>Creates fluid-tight, airtight parts<\/td><\/tr>
Surface Roughness<\/td>Ra<\/em> < 1 \u00b5m<\/td>Achieves a high-gloss, premium finish<\/td><\/tr>
Compatible Technologies<\/td>MJF, SLS & FDR<\/td>Optimised for Powder Bed Fusion polymers<\/td><\/tr>
Compatible Post-Processing<\/td>DeepDye Colouring<\/td>Ensures superior dye intake and glossy finish<\/td><\/tr>
Maximal Part Size<\/td>385 x 585 x 385 mm<\/td>Uniformity for small & large parts<\/td><\/tr>
Geometry Access<\/td>100%<\/td>Smooths complex internal lattices<\/td><\/tr>
Dimensional Impact<\/td>Zero Material Removal<\/td>Maintains mass and structural integrity<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n
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Surface roughness and dimensional impacts are based on standard industrial benchmarks for SLS PA 2200 & MJF PA 12 materials, two of the most widely used additive manufacturing polymers. It is important to note that final surface quality and dimensional accuracy are highly dependent on part geometry and wall thickness. For elastomeric materials such as SLS TPU, the vapour-phase process can lead to a more pronounced dimensional shrinkage compared to rigid polymers. <\/p>\n\n

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The Ultimate Duo<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For projects where aesthetic appeal and functional performance are equally critical, combining DeepDye Colouring and Vapour Smoothing delivers a result that is indistinguishable from traditional manufacturing. A vapour smoothed part gains not just visual richness but a sealed, durable surface that stands up to environmental wear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While DeepDye Colouring provides rich, consistent colour, the Vapour Smoothing process acts as the ultimate “amplifier.” By sealing the surface and reducing roughness to sub-micron levels before or after the colouring stage, we achieve: <\/p>\n\n\n\n