Choosing a filament for your fused filament fabrication 3D printing project is a big decision. It will affect the aesthetics, mechanical properties, and functionality of the components. Many materials can be 3D printed using fused filament fabrication, offering different levels of durability, flexibility, and strength. With a plethora of options at your disposal—such as PLA, ABS, PETG, TPU, Nylon, Polycarbonate, and an expanding range of specialty materials—finding the best fit for your project can be daunting.
This post aims to highlight the key properties, advantages, disadvantages, ideal applications, and practical considerations for each primary filament type, enabling you to make an informed decision for your project.
Understanding the Basics: What Is 3D Printing Filament?
3D printing filaments are thermoplastic materials specifically for use in Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) 3D printers. From simple prototypes to components requiring high performance under harsh conditions, there’s a filament to match the need.
The Most Common Filament Types
PLA (Polylactic Acid)
Made from renewable resources, such as cornstarch or sugar cane.
PLA Characteristics
- Low Melting Point: Typically between 180 and 220° C.
- Good Layer Adhesion: Strong interlayer bonding. The results offer a smoother surface finish and reliability compared to other materials.
- Biodegradability: Industrial composting contributes to PLA’s reputation as an eco-friendly material.
- Low Thermal Expansion: Ideal for printing larger objects without a heated print bed, and reduces warping.
- Mechanical Properties: Strong and rigid, but brittle and has poor impact resistance with limited flexibility.
Pros and Cons of PLA in FFF
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Ease of Use |
Poor Heat Resistant |
|
No Heated Build Bed |
Brittleness |
|
Widely Available |
Limited Mechanical Strength |
|
Eco-Friendly |
Dimensional Stability |
|
Good Surface Finish |
Not Fully Biodegradable in Home Composting |
Applications for PLA in FFF Printing.
- Prototyping: Ideal for rapid prototyping and validation models.
- Educational Projects: A standard material in schools and maker spaces for learning and experiments due to its ease of use and printability with desktop printing machines.
- Decorative Objects: Printing figurings, models, art pieces, and film props where mechanical strength isn’t critical.
- Medical Models: Ideal for anatomical models and surgical planning uses.
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
ABS is preferable to PLA due to its higher temperature resistance and toughness. It has good abrasion resistance and can be post-processed with acetone for a glossy finish, sanded, and painted with acrylics.
ABS Characteristics
- Composition: Made up of acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene.
- Mechanical Properties: It is rigid, highly impact-resistant, chemical-resistant, strong, and lightweight.
- Thermal Stability: Maintains properties at lower temperatures.
- Surface Finish: The styrene component gives ABS a smooth, shiny surface.
Pros and Cons of ABS in FFF
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Strength and Toughness |
Warping and Shrinkage |
|
Thermal and Chemical Resistance |
Fume Emissions |
|
Affordability |
UV Sensitivity |
|
Lightweight |
Adhesion Problems |
|
Good Processability |
|
Applications of ABS in FFF Printing
- Prototyping: Produces functional prototypes and concept models.
- End-Use Components: For example, automotive, consumer electronics, and appliance housings utilize this material.
- Toys and Consumer Goods: Famously known for its use in LEGO bricks (injection molded for mass production), ABS is a standard material in various household and consumer items.
- Engineering Components: The mechanical properties make it ideal for gears, enclosures, and other applications that require strength and dimensional stability.
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
PETG is a copolymer derived from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) with the addition of glycol, which enhances its properties for additive manufacturing.
PETG Characteristics
- Durability: It has high impact resistance and ductility.
- Chemical Resistant: Good resistance to several chemicals, including acids, bases, oils, and solvents. (Strong bases and solvents can degrade it, like acetone)
- Clarity and Translucency: Comparable to frosted glass or with post-processing, acrylic.
- Printability: Prints easily, similar to PLA, but with increased strength and durability, comparable to ABS.
- Water Resistant: Unlike PLA, it is water-resistant and suitable for moisture-exposed applications and the outdoors.
Pros and Cons of PETG in FFF
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Easy to Print |
Known for Stringing and Oozing |
|
Odorless Printing |
Not Abrasion Resistant |
|
Impact, Chemical, and Water Resistant |
Less Heat Resistant than ABS |
|
Decent Flexibility |
Adhesion Issues |
|
Translucent |
|
Applications of PETG in FFF Printing
- Prototyping: Functional prototypes that require durability and flexibility.
- Mechanical Components: Brackets, enclosures, and gears.
- Medical and Food Industry: Medical devices, bottles, and packaging.
- Display Items: Display cases, signage, and light diffusers.
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) & Flexible Filaments
TPU filament is a flexible, durable elastomer for 3D printing. It combines the elasticity of rubber with the processability of thermoplastics, making it a versatile material.
TPU Characteristics
- Flexibility and Elasticity: TPU can stretch and bend without breaking.
- Durability: Tough with resistance to abrasion, wear, and tear.
- Chemical Resistant: Invulnerable to oils, solvents, and many chemicals.
- Minimal Warping: Does not require a heated print bed or primer.
- Good Layer Adhesion: Adheres well between layers, which reduces the risk of delamination.
- Processability: Many FFF printers can melt and extrude TPU, although it may require slower print speeds.
Pros and Cons of TPU in FFF
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Highly Flexible |
Flexibility can be Print Challenging |
|
Impact and Abrasion Resistant |
Slower Print Speeds |
|
Chemical and Oil Resistant |
Limited Detail |
|
Minimal Warping |
Stiffer than Molded TPU |
|
Good Layer Bonding |
Stringing and Oozing |
Applications of TPU in FFF Printing
- Protective Cases: Electronics, phones, and tools.
- Seals and Gaskets: Automotive and industrial applications.
- Wearables: Custom-fit orthotics, insoles, and wristbands.
- Toys and Prototyping: Flexible toys, grips, and functional prototypes.
- Medical Devices: Flexible connectors, grips, and tubing.
Nylon (Polyamide)
Nylon filament is a popular engineering-grade thermoplastic. It combines mechanical properties, durability, and versatility, and produces everything from functional parts and mechanical components to prototypes.
Nylon Characteristics:
- Durability and Strength: Greater strength and toughness compared to standard materials, such as ABS and PLA.
- Abrasion Resistance: Nylon can withstand repeated mechanical stress.
- Flexibility and Impact Resistant: It exhibits good elasticity, making it suitable for parts requiring flexibility without compromising strength.
- Low Friction and Wear Resistance: The low coefficient of friction of nylon makes it ideal for moving components.
- Thermal Resistance: Special grades of nylon can have melting points of up to 300 °C.
- Moisture Absorption: It is hygroscopic, meaning it will absorb moisture from the surrounding air. Nylon parts must be stored and dried correctly.
Pros and Cons of Nylon in FFF
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
High Strength-to-Weight Ratio |
Moisture Sensitivity |
|
Fatigue Resistant |
Prone to Warping |
|
Chemical Resistant |
Adhesion Issues |
|
Versatility |
Storage Requirements |
Applications of Nylon in FFF Printing
- Functional Prototypes: Prototypes that require strength, flexibility, and durability.
- End-Use Parts: Automotive, aerospace, electronics, and consumer goods, such as gears, bushings, hinges, and enclosures.
- Mechanical Components: Moving parts, wear-resistant components, and parts requiring repeated stress.
- Medical Devices: Custom medical tools and components due to specific grades of biocompatibility.
Polycarbonate (PC)
Polycarbonate filament is a high-performance, strong, and durable synthetic material used for industrial and high-stress 3D printing applications.
PC Characteristics
- High Strength: Excellent mechanical properties include tenacity and tensile strength.
- Heat Resistant: A high glass transition temperature (~147 °C) ensures excellent thermal performance.
- Dimensional Stability: PC maintains its shape under stress or heat, which is suitable for parts requiring tight tolerances.
- Translucency: Great for fluid flow testing and visualizing internal features.
- Electrical Insulation: It offers high dielectric strength, heat resistance, and some have flame-retardant properties.
- Lightweight: It is lighter and denser than alternatives, such as ABS.
Pros and Cons of PC in FFF
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
|
Mechanical Strength |
Difficult to Print (High Temperatures Needed) |
|
High Heat Tolerance |
Adhesion Issues |
|
Dimensional Accuracy |
Warping Potential |
|
Versatility of Uses |
Limited Color Options |
|
Electrical Insulation |
More Expensive |
Applications of PC in FFF Printing
- Functional Prototypes: Prototypes that need to withstand stress and high temperatures.
- Translucent Prototypes: Fluid flow tests and internal features visualization.
- End-Use Components: Low-volume production runs.
- Engineering Parts: Brackets, gears, housings.
- Automotive and Aerospace: Lightweight, strong, heat-resistant components.
Specialty Filaments
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Filaments
These are a special blend of carbon fibers in a thermoplastic matrix, such as thermoplastics like PLA, PETG, or nylon. The combination dramatically increases stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability while reducing the weight. They’re common in functional prototypes and lightweight structural parts in the aerospace and automotive industries. Carbon fiber-reinforced filaments can be abrasive and brittle, making printing more challenging.
Glass-Filled Composite Filaments
These incorporate short glass fibers into polymers, which enhance strength, stiffness, and heat resistance. When a balance between strength and flexibility is required, these glass-filled filaments are a go-to material. They offer improved dimensional facility over unfilled plastics. Functional components, jigs, fixtures, and parts in the automotive and industrial industries often utilize glass-filled composites. They can be abrasive, and the glass additive makes the components heavier.
Conductive Filaments
These filaments blend a base polymer with conductive additives, such as carbon black or graphene. Conductive filaments can print electronic components, low-voltage circuits, and touch sensors. Examples of applications that utilize this material include wearable electronics, touch-sensitive devices, and the prototyping of simple circuits. It is not suitable for high-current applications and is challenging to print.
Magnetic Filaments
Blending PLA or ABS with iron powder or other ferromagnetic materials makes them attracted to magnets. Educational models, magnetic sensors, and custom fridge magnets utilize magnetic filaments. They are also abrasive and heavier.
Dissolvable Filaments
These include PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol) and HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene). PVA is water-soluble, and HIPS dissolves in limonene. Support structures for intricate components or in multi-material printing utilize them. Due to their sensitivity to moisture, they must be kept dry and only used in dual-extruder printers.
Cost and Value: Assessing the Best Bang for Your Buck
When it comes to cost-effectiveness in 3D printing, PLA is the most economical filament. Its affordability and ease of use make it an excellent choice for prototyping new designs. On the other hand, ABS and PETG offer outstanding mechanical properties — such as increased strength and durability — for a relatively modest price increase. Making them suitable for projects demanding more robust outputs.
For applications requiring flexibility or high tensile strength, TPU and Nylon are an obvious choice. These filaments are more costly. Their properties make them invaluable for producing parts that must withstand stresses or bend without breaking. Additionally, specialty filaments—including carbon fiber composites, PVA, and HIPS—are suitable for advanced or professional applications where performance and material characteristics are critical.
A Review of Common 3D Printing Filaments
| Filament Material | Notes | Applications |
|---|---|---|
|
PLA |
Easy to print, biodegradable, and low warping. |
Prototypes, models, toys, educational tools, and art. |
|
ABS |
Rigid, impact, and chemical resistant. |
Functional parts, automotive, tools, and enclosures. |
|
PETG |
Impact-resistant, chemical-resistant, and translucent. |
Mechanical parts, outdoor items, and food containers. |
|
TPU |
Flexible, elastic, and chemical resistant. |
Flexible parts, wearables, toys, and gaskets. |
|
Nylon |
High strength, abrasion, impact, and wear-resistant |
Gears, hinges, wear-resistant parts, and industrial components. |
|
PC |
High strength, heat resistant, and dimensional stability. |
Engineering parts, protective equipment, and high-temperature parts. |
|
Carbon Fiber Composites |
High Strength, rigidity, dimensional stability, and low weight. |
Functional prototypes and lightweight structural aerospace and automotive components. |
|
Glass-Filled Composites |
High strength, temperature resistance, and dimensional stability. |
Jigs and fixtures. Components for the automotive and industrial industries. |
|
PVA/HIPS |
Dissolvable filaments and sensitive to moisture. |
Support structures. |
FAQs
Define: 3D Printed FIlaments
3D printed filaments are the materials used in fused filament fabrication to create physical objects.
What is the strongest 3D printing filament?
Carbon fiber reinforced nylon is the strongest 3D printing filament.
Can 3D printing filaments be recycled?
Yes, some 3D printing filaments can be recycled.
Are 3D printed filaments food safe?
Not all 3D-printed filaments are food-safe. Use FDA-approved materials for food contact; contact us for further guidance on in-house filaments.
