3D Print Materials Guide
Use the information below to compare different print materials to determine which filament will be best for your project.
Filament Materials
PLA
Polylactic Acid, commonly known as PLA, is one of the most popular materials used in desktop 3D printing. PLA is the go-to material for most users due to its ease-of-use, dimensional accuracy, low cost and creates parts that can be used for a wide variety of applications. It is also one of the most environmentally friendly filaments on the market today. Derived from crops such as corn and sugarcane, PLA is renewable and most importantly biodegradable.
Characteristics: Rigid, Easy to Print
Typical Applications: Decorative Items, Test and Application Prints, Cosplay Props, Parts that need high dimensional accuracy
Stiffness: 7.5/10Durability: 4/10Printability: 9/10PETG
PETG filaments are known for their ease of printability, smooth surface finish, and water resistance. PETG is a Glycol Modified version of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), which is commonly used to manufacture water bottles. It is a semi-rigid material with good impact resistance, but it has a slightly softer surface which makes it prone to wear. The material also benefits from great thermal characteristics, allowing the plastic to cool efficiently with almost negligible warpage.
Characteristics: Chemically Resistant, Fatigue Resistant, Water Resistant, Rigid
Common Applications: Water Proof Items, Snap Fit Components, Planter Pots
Stiffness: 5/10Durability: 8/10Printability: 9/10ABS
ABS is a low-cost material, great for printing tough and durable parts that can withstand high temperatures. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) has a long history in the 3D printing world. This material was one of the first plastics to be used with industrial 3D printers. Many years later, ABS is still a very popular material thanks to its low cost and good mechanical properties. ABS is known for its toughness and impact resistance, allowing you to print durable parts that will hold up to extra usage and wear. LEGO building blocks are made from this material for that same reason! ABS also has a higher glass transition temperature, which means the material can withstand much higher temperatures before it begins to deform. This makes ABS a great choice for outdoor or high temperature applications.
Characteristics: Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Rigid
Typical Applications: Cases or Project Enclosures, Toys or Action Figures, Automotive Hardware
Stiffness: 5/10Durability: 8/10Printability: 8/10Nylon
Nylon is a tough and semi-flexible material that offers high impact and abrasion resistance. It is an ideal choice for printing durable parts. Nylon (A.K.A. Polyamide) is a popular material in the plastics industry, known for its toughness and flexibility. Nylon filaments typically require extruder temperatures near 250 ºC, however, some brands allow printing at temperatures as low as 220 ºC due to their chemical composition.
Characteristics: Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Heat Resistant, Flexible
Typical Applications: Plastic Gears, Screws, Nuts and Bolts, Cable Ties
Stiffness: 5/10Durability: 10/10Printability:8/10TPU/TPE
Flexible filaments, commonly referred to as TPE or TPU, are known for their elasticity allowing the material to easily stretch and bend. Flexible filaments are made of Thermoplastic Elastomers (TPE) which are a blend of hard plastic and rubber. As the name suggests, this material is elastic in nature allowing the plastic to be stretched and flexed easily. There are several types of TPE, with Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) being the most commonly used among 3D printing filaments. The degree of elasticity in the plastic depends on the type of TPE and the chemical formulation used by the manufacturer. For example, some filaments can be partially flexible like a car tire but others can be elastic and fully flexible like a rubber band. This guide will cover tips to help you with both of these variations of flexible filaments.
Characteristics: Elastic, Fatigue Resistant, Flexible, Soft
Typical Applications: Vibration Dampening, Grip Sleeves, Phone Case
Stiffness: 1/10Durability: 6/10Printability: 9/10ASA
ASA is a common alternative to ABS and is great for outdoor applications due to its high UV, temperature, and impact resistance. ASA, also known as Acrylic Styrene Acrylonitrile, is a 3D printable plastic with properties similar to ABS. It was originally developed as an alternative to ABS that would be more UV resistant by changing the type of rubber that’s used in the formulation. ASA is known for high impact resistance, higher temperature resistance, and increased printing difficulty. It’s commonly used in outdoor applications instead of ABS due to its superior resistance to UV and harsh weather conditions. Due to its heritage, ASA still retains many of the same printability drawbacks that are seen with ABS. Warping is still a consistent issue.
Characteristics: Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Rigid, UV Resistant
Typical Applications: Automotive Exterior Parts, Outdoor Electronic Housings, Exterior Signage
Stiffness: 5/10Durability: 10/10Printability: 7/10Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate (PC) is known for its strength and durability. It has very high heat and impact resistance making it an ideal choice for tough environments engineering applications. It has extremely high heat deflection, and impact resistance. Polycarbonate also has a high glass transition temperature of 150° Celsius. This means it will maintain its structural integrity up to that temperature, making it suitable for use in high-temperature applications. It can also be bent without breaking and is often used in applications where some minor flexibility is required.
Characteristics: Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Rigid, Fatigue Resistant
Typical Applications: High Strength Parts, Heat Resistant Parts, Electronic Cases
Stiffness: 6/10Durability: 10/10Printability: 6/10Carbon Filled
Carbon fiber filaments contain short fibers that are infused into a base material to help increase strength and stiffness. The fibers improve the material properties of the base material. Several popular filaments can be bought with carbon fiber fill including PLA, PETG, Nylon, ABS, and Polycarbonate. These fibers are extremely strong and cause the filament to increase in strength and stiffness. This also means that the 3D printed parts will be much lighter and more dimensionally stable, as the fibers will help prevent shrinking of the part as it cools.
Characteristics: Composite, Rigid
Typical Applications: RC Vehicle Parts, Functional Prototypes, Decorative Pieces, Lightweight Props
Stiffness: 10/10Durability: 3/10Printability: 8/10Polypropylene
Polypropylene is great for high-cycle, low strength applications due to its fatigue resistance, semi-flexible, and lightweight characteristics. Polypropylene is commonly used in storage and packaging applications. The semi-crystalline structure of the material causes the 3D printed parts to heavily warp upon cooling, making it challenging to 3D print. Polypropylene is tough and has a good fatigue resistance making it ideal for low strength applications like living hinges, straps, leashes, etc. A few manufacturers have even created polypropylene blends that have improved toughness making it suitable for practical use.
Characteristics: Fatigue Resistant, Heat Resistant, Flexible, Soft, Water Resistant
Typical Applications: Living Hinges, Storage Containers, Watch Straps
Stiffness: 4/10Durability: 9/10Printability: 4/10Liquid Resin Materials
Liquid Resin (Model)
Model Resin is made primarily for parts and components that require no loading. It is better for items that will be used primarily for display.
Characteristics: Low Cost, Aesthetically Pleasing, Low Strength
Typical Applications: Non-load Bearing Parts, Models, Decorative Parts, Low Heat Exposed Parts, No UV exposed parts
Liquid Resin (Firm or Tough)
Firm Resin is stronger than the model resin but still weak compared to filament products above. This can be used for products and items that will require light loading. The Firm Resin also has a small amount of flexibility.
Characteristics: Stronger than Model Resin, Aesthetically Pleasing, Somewhat Flexible, High Cost
Typical Applications: Parts with light loading, Models, Low Heat Exposed Parts, No UV exposed parts
Liquid Resin (Hard)
Hard Resin is stronger than Firm Model Resin but still weak compared to filament products above. This can be used for products and items that will require light loading..
Characteristics: Higher Strength than Model Resin, Aesthetically Pleasing, High Cost
Typical Applications: Parts with medium loading, Models, Low Heat Exposed Parts, No UV exposed parts
Liquid Resin (Flexible)
Flexible Resin is intended for parts that require flexibility.
Characteristics: Low Strength, Aesthetically Pleasing, Flexible, High Cost
Typical Applications: Parts that require flexibility, Parts with Very Low Loading, Low Heat Exposed Parts, No UV exposed parts
Materials Data Charts
The following charts are intended as a guideline only. Every material manufacturer has different specifications. The charts below are based on information shown in the charts on the Simplify3D website.
