Voltage Vessels Launches Eclipse X9 Basalt Composite for Large-Format 3D Printing

Updated on June 09, 2026 • 4 min read

Voltage Vessels and Voltage Materials have officially launched Eclipse X9, a basalt fiber-reinforced recycled PETG composite developed for large-format additive manufacturing (LFAM), marine structures, tooling, and defense applications.

The Hawaii-based company announced that the material is now commercially available in both pellet and filament formats, expanding its accessibility across industrial LFAM platforms as well as desktop and large-format FFF printers.

Designed for Marine and Harsh Environment Applications

Eclipse X9 has been engineered specifically for demanding environments where corrosion resistance, durability, and lightweight performance are critical.

Target applications include:

• Marine structures
• Boat hulls
• Tooling and molds
• Buoys
• Unmanned surface vehicles (USVs)
• Coastal infrastructure
• Defense systems
• Large-format composite components

The material combines recycled PETG with basalt fiber reinforcement, creating a sustainable composite that offers improved mechanical performance while maintaining environmental durability.

Strong Mechanical Performance Validated by University of Maine

According to testing conducted by the University of Maine Advanced Structures and Composites Center (ASCC), Eclipse X9 demonstrated strong structural properties under recognized ASTM standards.

Reported properties include:

Property	Performance
Tensile Strength	108.2 MPa
Flexural Strength	112.98 MPa
Flexural Modulus	12 GPa
Heat Deflection Temperature	Above 70°C
Water Absorption	Below 0.4%
Saltwater Strength Retention	More than 90% after 24-26 months

The material was also evaluated using ISO 12215 marine scantling analysis, supporting its suitability for marine applications.

Basalt Fiber Offers Additional Defense Advantages

Unlike carbon fiber, basalt fiber is naturally nonconductive and exhibits low electromagnetic interference characteristics.

Voltage highlights several unique advantages:

• RF transparency
• Low radar signature
• Electrical insulation
• Corrosion resistance
• Long-term saltwater durability

These characteristics make Eclipse X9 particularly attractive for naval, autonomous maritime, and defense-related systems where electromagnetic performance is increasingly important.

Compatible with Multiple LFAM Platforms

The material has been designed as a platform-agnostic solution.

Pellet versions support:

• CEAD robotic extrusion systems
• Caracol LFAM platforms
• CMS gantry systems
• JuggerBot large-format printers

Filament versions are available in:

• 1.75 mm
• 2.85 mm

This allows adoption across desktop prototyping systems and industrial-scale additive manufacturing equipment.

Circular Manufacturing Approach

One notable feature of Eclipse X9 is its recyclability.

Printed parts can be:

1. Shredded
2. Re-pelletized
3. Reprinted

This closed-loop capability helps reduce material waste while supporting circular manufacturing initiatives increasingly demanded across marine and industrial sectors.

Nāia 25 Demonstrates Marine Potential

Voltage is currently developing the Nāia 25, a 25-foot electric research catamaran concept that serves as a demonstration platform for Eclipse X9.

The vessel is being designed around the new composite material to showcase:

• Structural performance
• Marine durability
• Large-format additive manufacturing capabilities
• Sustainable boat production

Early manufacturing feedback has reportedly been positive, particularly regarding printability, layer consistency, stiffness, surface finish quality, and ease of processing.

🔒 Content Transparency & Editorial Integrity

This article is developed based on real engineering experience, machine testing data, and practical production knowledge from Jota Machinery’s work in advanced composite manufacturing.

All technical explanations—including material structure, processing methods, and performance characteristics—are reviewed and verified by our engineering team to ensure accuracy and real-world relevance.

To improve clarity and structure, AI-assisted tools may have been used during content organization and language refinement. However:

• All key technical insights originate from first-hand industrial experience
• All data and claims are manually reviewed and validated
• The content is created with the primary goal of educating engineers, manufacturers, and buyers

We do not publish content solely for search ranking purposes. Every article is designed to provide practical, experience-based value to professionals in the composite materials industry.

Editorial Perspective

The launch of Eclipse X9 reflects a growing trend within the composites industry toward combining recycled polymers, alternative fiber reinforcements, and large-format additive manufacturing.

While carbon fiber continues to dominate high-performance applications, basalt fiber is gaining attention due to its lower cost, corrosion resistance, dielectric properties, and environmental advantages.

For marine and defense sectors, Eclipse X9 offers an interesting combination of sustainability, durability, and additive manufacturing compatibility. If field performance matches laboratory results, the material could become a viable alternative for a wide range of large-format composite structures where traditional fiberglass and carbon fiber solutions remain costly or difficult to manufacture.

As LFAM adoption accelerates across marine, infrastructure, and defense markets, materials such as Eclipse X9 may play an increasingly important role in enabling scalable, digitally manufactured composite structures.