PBT Optimal

What is the refresh rate?

It is the ratio of a minimum amount of fresh powder needed in a mixture of material used in an SLS 3D printer. A lower refresh ratio means better cost-efficiency of the material.

How it works

The amount of needed fresh powder is automatically calculated by our software and shown on the printer screen after the print job is finished. Just add shown amount of material into the mixing cycle of used material and you can start your next job with refreshed material

To start SLS 3D printing you need the powder starter pack. After that, you’ll only need to refresh the powder you own with fresh powder.

MULTI POWDER HANDLING STATION

General information

Method

Material type

Polybutylene terephthalate

Dedicated for

Lisa X

Software

Sinterit Studio Advance

Material refreshing ratio¹

20%

Color

Dark Charcoal

Nitrogen needed

Mechanical properties

Tensile Strength (X direction)

49.04 MPa

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Tensile Strength (Y direction)

48.28 MPa

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Tensile modulus (X direction)

2718 MPa

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Tensile modulus (Y direction)

2663 MPa

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Elongation at Break (X direction)

2.56 %

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Elongation at Break (Y direction)

2.62 %

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Impact strength X (Charpy – unnotched)

9.18 kJ/m2

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Impact strength Y (Charpy – unnotched)

11.12 kJ/m2

PN-EN ISO 527-1:2012

Thermal properties

Melting point

172 °C

PN-EN ISO 11357-3:2018

1. Refresh ratio is the amount of refreshing powder required to be mixed after a print with unsintered material.rnrnInformation provided within this document shows values for reference and comparison only. rnParameters presented in this specification are subject to change without notice.rnFinal part properties may vary based on a printed part design and orientation, material handling as well as printing environment (humidity and temperature). The manufacturer is responsible for validation whether the printout is accurate and fit for the intended purpose.

FULL SPECIFICATION

Compatible with

Daniel Aarts

Technical Director at Innoseal Europe

Sinterit’s Lisa X has allowed us to reduce lead-times and create better solutions — faster, helping us satisfy our customers. We have looked at other 3D printing methods, and other brands, but ultimately decided on SLS and chose Sinterit for their communication, and open material possibility. Something we couldn’t find in other suppliers of affordable entry level SLS printers.

Innoseal case study with Sinterit LISA X

Alberto Parolin

R&D Team Leader in BNP

Getting Lisa X solved a lot of our problems. It has a big enough printing area, so we almost always can print big components in one part. It wouldn’t be possible with competitive SLS 3D printing solutions.

See case study

Philippe Bendel

Additive Manufacturing Development Leader – Somfy

The main reason Somfy reached out for the SLS technology from Sinterit was productivity. Printing many pieces in one batch was a game-changer

SEE CASE STUDY

Alec Bialek

Head of Jetson’s R&D

When we look at Lisa’s line of printers, or Sinterit at general compared to other companies, the two major things that we liked were the materials, that are open source, so we are not locked into one brand […]. We are able to look around the market and use a material that works best for the part.

SEE CASE STUDY

FAQ

What is PBT Optimal? P

PBT Optimal is a Polybutylene Terephthalate (PBT) powder designed for SLS 3D printing with the Lisa X. It offers high rigidity, great detailing, excellent chemical resistance, and very low cost per part, making it ideal for cost-conscious applications.

What makes PBT Optimal “optimal”?

PBT Optimal is engineered for cost-effective prototyping and production. It features:

The lowest printing cost per part among Sinterit’s compact SLS materials
Low refresh ratio (20%), meaning minimal waste and reduced material usage
Excellent stiffness and fine detail resolution, ideal for precision components

What printer is it compatible with?

PBT Optimal is specifically optimized for use with the Sinterit Lisa X SLS 3D printer.

Do I need nitrogen during the print process?

No, nitrogen is not required when printing with PBT Optimal.

What are the most common applications?

PBT Optimal is suited for a wide range of technical and industrial applications, including:

Thermoforming molds
Electrical and electronic components
Electronic enclosures
Dental applications
Prototyping and rigid tooling components

What are the key mechanical properties?

Tensile strength: ~49 MPa
Tensile modulus: ~2700 MPa
Flexural strength: ~50 MPa
Impact resistance (Charpy unnotched): up to 11.12 kJ/m²
Shore hardness: 77D

These figures indicate high stiffness, moderate impact strength, and excellent dimensional stability

What about thermal resistance?

PBT Optimal performs reliably under moderate heat:

Melting temperature: 172 °C
Heat deflection temperature (HDT A): 52 °C
Softening point (Vicat A50): 93.2 °C

These values make it suitable for applications involving moderate thermal stress

Is it sustainable?

Yes — when used as intended with a 20% refresh ratio, PBT Optimal allows for sustainable printing with no powder waste, making it an environmentally and economically responsible choice.

What is the powder color and grain size?

Color: Dark Charcoal
Mean particle size (D50): 57 µm

This ensures consistent surface quality and high printing resolution

Your concerns may include costs, ROI, customer support, print quality, or printing speed. We have helped thousands of companies make the right choice.

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Pricing

Below there are approximate costs for some example models.

Be aware that the quotation assumes that there is only one piece printed. In SLS technology, the cost per part will be much lower with a higher number of elements printed at once.

Flexible
Standard

Model

Dimensions

PA12
Smooth

PA11
Onyx

Flexa
Grey

Flexa
Soft

TPE

Below

Model volume:

Total print height:

6.82 cm

Dimensions:

65 x 65 x 63 mm

51,30 €

Crank

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Total print height:

6.82 cm

Dimensions:

65 x 65 x 63 mm

49,90 €

Derailleur

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Total print height:

6.82 cm

Dimensions:

65 x 65 x 63 mm

71,80 €

Driller housing

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Total print height:

6.82 cm

Dimensions:

65 x 65 x 63 mm

157 €

Model

Dimensions

PA12
Smooth

PA11
Onyx

Flexa
Grey

Flexa
Soft

TPE

Crank

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

51,30 €

Crank

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

51,30 €

Crank

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

51,30 €

Crank

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

51,30 €

Crank

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

51,30 €

Crank

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

Model volume:

28.12 cm^3

51,30 €

PBT Optimal

PBT Optimal

Properties:

Applications:

Reusing the powder in a simple and cost-efficient way

Specification

General information

Method

Mechanical properties

Thermal properties

Daniel Aarts

Technical Director at Innoseal Europe

Alberto Parolin

R&D Team Leader in BNP

Philippe Bendel

Additive Manufacturing Development Leader – Somfy

Alec Bialek

Head of Jetson’s R&D

Overcome Your Challenge with the Right 3D Printer

Discover Case Studies

Order sample model

See also powders:

PA12 Smooth

PA12 Onyx

PA11 ESD

FAQ

What is PBT Optimal? P

What makes PBT Optimal “optimal”?

What printer is it compatible with?

Do I need nitrogen during the print process?

What are the most common applications?

What are the key mechanical properties?

What about thermal resistance?

Is it sustainable?

What is the powder color and grain size?

Want to solve your project challenge ?

Download the checklist that will save your time and simplify the decision-making process when choosing a 3D printer for your project.

Resources

Pricing

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decision-making process when choosing a 3D printer for your project.