Advanced FDM 3D Printing Materials

This page is intended to provide an overview of the variety of 3D printing filament options available on the market.

When designing a part for 3D printing it is important to keep the intended material in mind. Different materials will have vastly different performance in different environments.

Overview of common material parameters:

• Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): The temperature at which a polymer transitions from a hard, glassy state to a soft, rubbery state.

• Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT): The temperature at which a polymer deforms under a specified load.

• Shore Hardness: A measure of the material's resistance to indentation.

• Young's Modulus: A measure of a material's stiffness or resistance to elastic deformation.

• Tensile Strength: The maximum stress a material can withstand before failing or breaking.

• Density: The mass per unit volume of a material.

• Impact Resistance: The ability of a material to absorb shock and impact without breaking.

• Chemical Resistance: The ability of a material to withstand exposure to various chemicals without degrading.

• UV Resistance: The ability of a material to maintain its properties when exposed to ultraviolet light.

Common Filaments Used in the AMS:

PLA:

• Advantages: Easy to print, low warping, biodegradable, wide color range.

• Disadvantages: Low heat resistance, brittle.

• Use cases: Prototypes, decorative items, low-stress applications.

PETG:

• Advantages: Good strength, chemical resistance, and impact resistance.

• Disadvantages: Can be prone to stringing, moisture sensitive.

• Use cases: Food-safe containers, mechanical parts, outdoor applications.

ASA:

• Advantages: Excellent UV resistance, weather-resistant, good mechanical properties.

• Disadvantages: Requires higher printing temperatures, can warp.

• Use cases: Outdoor enclosures, automotive parts, marine applications.

PA-CF/Nylon-CF:

• Advantages: High strength-to-weight ratio, excellent wear resistance.

• Disadvantages: Moisture sensitive, requires high printing temperatures.

• Use cases: Functional prototypes, end-use parts in aerospace and automotive industries.

TPU:

• Advantages: Flexible, high elasticity, abrasion resistant.

• Disadvantages: Can be difficult to print, moisture sensitive.

• Use cases: Flexible parts, gaskets, phone cases, shoe soles.

Other filaments of note:

ABS:

• Advantages: Good impact resistance, heat resistant, can be post-processed.

• Disadvantages: Prone to warping, emits fumes when printing.

• Use cases: Functional prototypes, end-use parts, automotive components.

PC:

• Advantages: High impact resistance, heat resistant, transparent options available.

• Disadvantages: Requires high printing temperatures, moisture sensitive.

• Use cases: Safety equipment, automotive parts, medical devices.

PET:

• Advantages: Food safe, good clarity, recyclable.

• Disadvantages: Can be brittle, moisture sensitive.

• Use cases: Food containers, water bottles, packaging.

PP:

• Advantages: Chemical resistant, fatigue resistant, lightweight.

• Disadvantages: Difficult to print, prone to warping.

• Use cases: Living hinges, chemical containers, automotive parts.

HIPS:

• Advantages: Good impact resistance, can be used as support material.

• Disadvantages: Limited color options, can be brittle.

• Use cases: Support structures, prototypes, packaging.

PVA:

• Advantages: Water-soluble, useful for complex geometries.

• Disadvantages: Moisture sensitive, limited mechanical properties.

• Use cases: Support structures for complex prints.

PEEK:

• Advantages: Extremely high temperature resistance, excellent mechanical properties.

• Disadvantages: Very expensive, requires specialized high-temperature printers.

• Use cases: Aerospace components, medical implants, high-performance engineering parts.

Lightweight filaments:

Prefoamed PLA:

• Advantages: Lightweight, reduced material usage.

• Disadvantages: Lower strength compared to standard PLA.

• Use cases: Lightweight prototypes, buoyant objects.

Foaming PLA:

• Advantages: Can be printed on standard printers, creates lightweight parts.

• Disadvantages: Requires careful temperature control.

• Use cases: Lightweight functional parts, insulation applications.

Foaming PETG:

• Advantages: Combines PETG properties with reduced weight.

• Disadvantages: Can be more difficult to print than standard PETG.

• Use cases: Lightweight containers, buoyant parts.

Foaming ASA:

• Advantages: UV-resistant lightweight parts.

• Disadvantages: Requires higher printing temperatures.

• Use cases: Outdoor lightweight applications.

Foaming TPU:

• Advantages: Creates flexible, lightweight parts, variable shore hardness.

• Disadvantages: Can be challenging to print.

• Use cases: Cushioning applications, flexible lightweight parts.

In addition to all of these filament options, carbon fiber embedded equivalents add stiffness, durability, and UV resistance.