Common 3D Printing Materials

 

the most Common 3D Printing or Additive Manufacturing Materials and Filaments are shown below:

Outline:

Filament-Based Materials for Rapid Prototyping

Plastic 3D Printing Materials:

3D Printing, also known as Additive Manufacturing, deposits layer by layer and uses a variety of materials depending on the printing method and desired outcome. The most widely used 3D Printing technology is Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), which primarily employs thermoplastic filaments. In general, PLA and ABS are the most widely used materials for FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling) printers due to their ease of use and affordability. PLA is biodegradable and easy to print with, while ABS is more durable and heat-resistant. PETG offers a good balance between ease of use and durability. Each material has its properties, strengths, and suitable applications. In production for very low-cost parts injection molding is often used. However, in low quantities, Additive Manufacturing is more cost-effective as high-cost molds are not needed.

Here's an overview of common 3D printer filaments:

1.      Polylactic Acid (PLA):

PLA Filament has become one of the most common materials for 3D printing because it is easy to print, biodegradable, and derived from corn and other biomaterials. It prints at relatively low temperatures (190-220°C) with minimal warping, making it ideal for beginners.

Key Properties:

  • Print temperature: 190-220°C

  • Bed temperature: 20-60°C (optional)

  • Low shrinkage and warping, and minimal odor

  • Biodegradable under industrial composting conditions

  • Good surface finish and detail reproduction

  • Limited heat resistance and durability

  • Ideal for prototypes, low-wear toys, and decorative items when 3D Printing Plastic Material.

 

2.      Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS):

ABS is another common 3D printing filament. ABS offers superior mechanical properties compared to PLA, with better impact resistance and higher temperature tolerance. However, it requires more careful temperature management and produces fumes during printing.

Key Properties:

  • Print temperature: 220-260°C

  • Bed temperature: 80-110°C

  • Higher impact resistance than PLA

  • Better temperature resistance

  • Can be acetone-smoothed for glossy finish

  • Durable and heat-resistant

  • Suitable for functional parts, automotive components, and electronics housings

 

3.      Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol (PETG):

PETG combines the ease of printing similar to PLA with the mechanical properties closer to ABS. It's chemically resistant and food-safe when properly printed. (Plastic water bottles use this type of plastic)

Key Properties:

  • Print temperature: 220-250°C

  • Bed temperature: 70-80°C

  • Chemical resistance

  • Food-safe applications

  • Crystal clear transparency available

  • Combines ease of use with durability

  • Good chemical resistance and water-resistant properties

  • Used for food-safe containers, mechanical parts, and outdoor items

Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate (ASA):

Recommended when you need it to have good outside performance exposed to UV (durability and weather resistance).

Key Properties:

  • Similar to ABS but with better weather resistance

  • Ideal for outdoor applications and automotive parts

  • Inherently weather-resistant

  • Excellent UV stability

  • Chemical resistance to environmental exposure

  • Print temperature: 240-260°C

  • Bed temperature: 90-110°C

  • No post-processing required for weather resistance

 

Nylon:

Nylon can be sourced with different chain lengths and is desirable for its high strength and high heat resistance.

Properties:

  • High strength and durability

  • Good chemical resistance

  • Self-lubricating properties

  • Print temperature: 240-280°C

  • Bed temperature: 80-120°C

  • Requires dry storage and controlled humidity printing

  • High strength-to-weight ratio and durability

  • Good for functional prototypes, tools, and end-use parts

  • Can be challenging to print due to hygroscopic nature

PC (Polycarbonate):

Engineering-grade thermoplastic known for its exceptional impact resistance and transparency.

Properties:

  • Print temperature is higher temperature: 270-310°C

  • Bed temperature: 90-120°C

  • Extremely high strength and impact resistance

  • Excellent optical clarity

  • Temperature resistance up to 140°C

  • Requires enclosed chamber and heated bed

  • High heat resistance

  • Used for engineering applications and protective gear

 

Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU):

 Flexible material available in waterproof formulations for seals, gaskets, and other flexible applications. There are different variants with a range of shore hardness. 98A is relatively stiff, but the most easily printed and suitable for multi-material printing with systems such as an AMS (automatic material system) for changing materials/colors in a multi-material multicolor print. There are also compositions that include foaming functionality, where printing at higher temperatures and/or slowly will yield a softer shore hardness, such as TPU AIR.

Key Properties:

  • Flexible and elastic material

  • Excellent for creating shock-absorbing components, phone cases, and wearables

Characteristics:

  • Flexible and elastic

  • Waterproof when properly printed

  • Excellent abrasion resistance

  • Print temperature: 210-250°C

  • Slow printing speeds required

  • Shore hardness typically 85A-95A

Thermoplastic Elastomers: This involves many elastomers other than TPU.  One example is Ninjaflex.

 

Composites

Enhanced PLA Variants

PLA+ (PLA Plus)

An improved formulation of standard PLA that offers significantly better mechanical properties while maintaining the ease of printing.

Improvements over standard PLA:

  • 3-4x higher impact resistance

  • Improved layer adhesion

  • Better temperature resistance (up to 70°C vs 50°C for standard PLA)

  • Less brittle, more durable prints

  • Similar printing parameters to standard PLA

PLA Pro

Professional-grade PLA with enhanced strength and durability characteristics.

Features:

  • Superior tensile strength

  • Improved flexibility without sacrificing rigidity

  • Better UV resistance

  • Enhanced thermal properties

  • Suitable for functional prototypes

Tough PLA

Specifically engineered for applications requiring high toughness and impact resistance.

Properties:

  • Exceptional impact resistance

  • Reduced brittleness

  • Maintains easy printability

  • Ideal for tools, fixtures, and mechanical parts

 

  1. Wood Fiber

    (Cellulose + PLA) Filament is a high-strength highly robust material made from wood fiber and typically PLA. It has the look, feel, and even the smell of natural wood.

    • PLA mixed with wood fibers for a wood-like appearance and feel

    • Suitable for decorative items and prototypes

5.      Silk Composites:

  1. Metal-filled PLA:

    • PLA with metal powder for a metallic look and feel

    • Heavier than standard PLA, used for decorative pieces

 

Carbon Fiber Composite Materials

PLA-CF (Carbon Fiber PLA)

PLA reinforced with carbon fiber particles for enhanced strength and stiffness.

Characteristics:

  • Significantly increased stiffness and strength

  • Reduced weight compared to solid plastic

  • Matte, professional finish

  • Requires hardened steel nozzle due to abrasive nature

  • Print temperature: 200-230°C

 

ASA-CF (Carbon Fiber ASA)

ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) reinforced with carbon fiber for outdoor applications requiring UV resistance.

Benefits:

  • Exceptional UV resistance

  • High strength-to-weight ratio

  • Excellent surface finish

  • Temperature resistance similar to ABS

  • Print temperature: 240-270°C

  • Bed temperature: 90-110°C

  • Ideal for automotive and outdoor applications

Nylon-CF (Carbon Fiber Nylon)

Professional-grade composite combining nylon's toughness with carbon fiber's strength.

Characteristics:

  • Extremely high strength and stiffness

  • Excellent chemical resistance

  • Low coefficient of friction

  • Print temperature: 250-290°C

  • Bed temperature: 80-120°C

  • Requires dry storage and printing environment

PETG-CF (Carbon Fiber PETG)

Carbon fiber reinforced PETG offering enhanced properties while maintaining chemical resistance.

Features:

  • Improved mechanical properties over standard PETG

  • Chemical resistance maintained

  • Professional matte finish

  • Print temperature: 230-260°C

  • Bed temperature: 70-90°C

PC-CF (Carbon Fiber Polycarbonate)

The combination of polycarbonate's impact resistance with carbon fiber reinforcement.

Properties:

  • Exceptional impact resistance

  • High temperature resistance

  • Professional appearance

  • Print temperature: 280-320°C

  • Bed temperature: 100-130°C

  • Requires enclosed heated chamber

 

PP (Polypropylene)

Chemical-resistant thermoplastic with excellent water resistance and flexibility.

Properties:

  • Completely waterproof

  • Excellent chemical resistance

  • High fatigue resistance

  • Very low density (floats on water)

  • Print temperature: 220-250°C

  • Bed temperature: 90-110°C (with adhesion aids)

  • Challenging to print due to poor bed adhesion

 

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene)

Chemical-resistant plastic commonly used in containers and marine applications.

Features:

  • Completely waterproof

  • Excellent chemical resistance

  • Food-safe applications

  • Very challenging to print (poor adhesion)

  • Print temperature: 220-260°C

  • Requires specialized bed preparation

 

There are many Resins used for SLA (Stereolithography) and DLP (Digital Light Processing) printers with a wide range of material properties

  1. Resin (for SLA/DLP printers):

    • Provides high detail and smooth surface finish

    • Various formulations for different properties (tough, flexible, castable)

  2. Metal powders (for SLS/DMLS printers):

    • Used for creating functional metal parts

    • Materials include aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and more

  3. Ceramic powders:

    • For specialized applications in industries like aerospace and medical

Each material has its unique properties, strengths, and weaknesses, making them suitable for different applications. The choice of material depends on the specific requirements of the project, such as mechanical properties, environmental resistance, biocompatibility, and post-processing needs.

 

Material Selection Summary

For Beginners:

  • Start with PLA or PLA+

  • Consider PETG for more demanding applications

  • Avoid high-temperature materials until experienced

For Functional Parts:

  • ABS or ASA for temperature resistance

  • Nylon for wear resistance

  • PETG for chemical resistance

  • Carbon fiber composites for strength

For Outdoor Applications:

  • ASA for UV resistance

  • PP for marine environments

  • Carbon fiber ASA for structural outdoor parts

For Professional/Industrial Use:

  • PEEK for ultimate performance

  • PEI for aerospace applications

  • PPSU for medical devices

  • PC for impact-critical applications

Printing Considerations

Nozzle Requirements:

  • Standard brass nozzles: PLA, PETG, ABS, ASA

  • Hardened steel nozzles: Carbon fiber materials, abrasive filaments

  • Ruby or sapphire nozzles: Extreme abrasive materials

Printer Requirements:

  • Entry-level printers: PLA, PLA variants

  • Mid-range enclosed printers: ABS, ASA, PETG, Nylon

  • High-temperature printers: PC, PEI, PEEK

  • Industrial printers: All materials with proper setup

Storage Requirements:

  • Hygroscopic materials (Nylon, PVA, PETG): Dry storage essential

  • Standard materials (PLA, ABS): Cool, dry storage recommended

  • High-performance materials: Vacuum storage often required