3D print materials

Guide to 3D Printing Materials: Types, Applications, and Properties

3D printing empowers you to prototype and manufacture parts for a wide range of applications quickly and cost-effectively. But choosing the right 3D printing process is just one side of the coin. Ultimately, it'll be largely up to the materials to enable you to create parts with the desired mechanical properties, functional characteristics, or looks.

This comprehensive guide to 3D printing materials showcases the most popular plastic and metal 3D printing materials available, compares their properties, applications, and describes a framework that you can use to choose the right one for your project.

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There are dozens of plastic materials available for 3D printing, each with its unique qualities that make it best suited to specific use cases. To simplify the process of finding the material best suited for a given part or product, let’s first look at the main types of plastics and the different 3D printing processes.

There are the two main types of plastics:

Thermoplastics are the most commonly used type of plastic. The main feature that sets them apart from thermosets is their ability to go through numerous melt and solidification cycles. Thermoplastics can be heated and formed into the desired shape. The process is reversible, as no chemical bonding takes place, which makes recycling or melting and reusing thermoplastics feasible. A common analogy for thermoplastics is butter, which can be melted, re-solidify, and melted again. With each melting cycle, the properties change slightly.
Thermosetting plastics (also referred to as thermosets) remain in a permanent solid state after curing. Polymers in thermosetting materials cross-link during a curing process that is induced by heat, light, or suitable radiation. Thermosetting plastics decompose when heated rather than melting, and will not reform upon cooling. Recycling thermosets or returning the material back into its base ingredients is not possible. A thermosetting material is like cake batter, once baked into a cake, it cannot be melted back into batter again.

The three most established plastic 3D printing processes today are the following:

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printers melt and extrude thermoplastic filaments, which a printer nozzle deposits layer by layer in the build area.
Stereolithography (SLA) 3D printers use a laser to cure thermosetting liquid resins into hardened plastic in a process called photopolymerization.
Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printers use a high-powered laser to fuse small particles of thermoplastic powder.

Video Guide

Having trouble finding the best 3D printing technology for your needs? In this video guide, we compare FDM, SLA, and SLS technologies across popular buying considerations.

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Fused deposition modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament fabrication (FFF), is the most widely used form of 3D printing at the consumer level, fueled by the emergence of hobbyist 3D printers.

This technique is well-suited for basic proof-of-concept models, as well as quick and low-cost prototyping of simple parts, such as parts that might typically be machined.

Consumer level FDM has the lowest resolution and accuracy when compared to other plastic 3D printing processes and is not the best option for printing complex designs or parts with intricate features. Higher-quality finishes may be obtained through chemical and mechanical polishing processes. Industrial FDM 3D printers use soluble supports to mitigate some of these issues and offer a wider range of engineering thermoplastics or even composites, but they also come at a steep price.

As the melted filament forms each layer, sometimes voids can remain between layers when they don’t adhere fully. This results in anisotropic parts, which is important to consider when you are designing parts meant to bear load or resist pulling.

FDM 3D printing materials are available in a variety of color options. Various experimental plastic filament blends also exist to create parts with wood- or metal-like surfaces.

The most common FDM 3D printing materials are ABS, PLA, and their various blends. More advanced FDM printers can also print with other specialized materials that offer properties like higher heat resistance, impact resistance, chemical resistance, and rigidity.

Material	Features	Applications
ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)	Tough and durable Heat and impact resistant Requires a heated bed to print Requires ventilation	Functional prototypes
PLA (polylactic acid)	The easiest FDM materials to print Rigid, strong, but brittle Less resistant to heat and chemicals Biodegradable Odorless	Concept models Looks-like prototypes
PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol)	Compatible with lower printing temperatures for faster production Humidity and chemical resistant High transparency Can be food safe	Waterproof applications Snap-fit components
Nylon	Strong, durable, and lightweight Tough and partially flexible Heat and impact resistant Very complex to print on FDM	Functional prototypes Wear resistant parts
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane)	Flexible and stretchable Impact resistant Excellent vibration dampening	Flexible prototypes
PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)	Soluble support material Dissolves in water	Support material
HIPS (high impact polystyrene)	Soluble support material most commonly used with ABS Dissolves in chemical limonene	Support material
Composites (carbon fiber, kevlar, fiberglass)	Rigid, strong, or extremely tough Compatibility limited to some expensive industrial FDM 3D printers	Functional prototypes Jigs, fixtures, and tooling

Stereolithography was the world’s first 3D printing technology, invented in the 1980s, and is still one of the most popular technologies for professionals.

SLA parts have the highest resolution and accuracy, the clearest details, and the smoothest surface finish of all plastic 3D printing technologies. Resin 3D printing is a great option for highly detailed prototypes requiring tight tolerances and smooth surfaces, such as molds, patterns, and functional parts. SLA parts can also be highly polished and/or painted after printing, resulting in client-ready parts with high-detailed finishes.

Parts printed using SLA 3D printing are generally isotropic—their strength is more or less consistent regardless of orientation because chemical bonds happen between each layer. This results in parts with predictable mechanical performance critical for applications like jigs and fixtures, end-use parts, and functional prototyping.

SLA offers the widest range of material options for plastic 3D printing.

SLA 3D printing is highly versatile, offering resin formulations with a wide range of optical, mechanical, and thermal properties to match those of standard, engineering, and industrial thermoplastics.

Formlabs Materials	Features	Applications
Standard Resins	High resolution Smooth, matte surface finish	Concept models Looks-like prototypes
Clear Resin	The only truly clear material for plastic 3D printing Polishes to near optical transparency	Parts requiring optical transparency Millifluidics
Draft Resin	One of the fastest materials for 3D printing 4x faster than standard resins, up to 10x faster than FDM	Initial Prototypes Rapid Iterations
Tough and Durable Resins	Strong, robust, functional, and dynamic materials Can handle compression, stretching, bending, and impacts without breaking Various materials with properties similar to ABS or PE	Housings and enclosures Jigs and fixtures Connectors Wear-and-tear prototypes
Rigid Resins	Highly filled, strong and stiff materials that resist bending Thermally and chemically resistant Dimensionally stable under load	Jigs, fixtures, and tooling Turbines and fan blades Fluid and airflow components Electrical casings and automotive housings
Polyurethane Resins	Excellent long-term durability UV, temperature, and humidity stable Flame retardancy, sterilizability, and chemical and abrasion resistance	High performance automotive, aerospace, and machinery components Robust and rugged end-use parts Tough, longer-lasting functional prototypes
High Temp Resin	High temperature resistance High precision	Hot air, gas, and fluid flow Heat resistant mounts, housings, and fixtures Molds and inserts
Flexible and Elastic Resins	Flexibility of rubber, TPU, or silicone Can withstand bending, flexing, and compression Holds up to repeated cycles without tearing	Consumer goods prototyping Compliant features for robotics Medical devices and anatomical models Special effects props and models
Medical and dental resins	A wide range of biocompatible resins for producing medical and dental appliances	Dental and medical appliances, including surgical guides, dentures, and prosthetics
Jewelry resins	Materials for investment casting and vulcanized rubber molding Easy to cast, with intricate details and strong shape retention	Try-on pieces Masters for reusable molds Custom jewelry
ESD Resin	ESD-safe material to improve electronics manufacturing workflows	Tooling & fixturing for electronics manufacturing Anti-static prototypes and end-use components Custom trays for component handling and storage
Ceramic Resin	Stone-like finish Can be fired to create a fully ceramic piece	Engineering research Art and design pieces

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Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing is trusted by engineers and manufacturers across different industries for its ability to produce strong, functional parts. Low cost per part, high productivity, and established materials make the technology ideal for a range of applications from rapid prototyping to small-batch, bridge, or custom manufacturing.

As the unfused powder supports the part during printing, there’s no need for dedicated support structures. This makes SLS ideal for complex geometries, including interior features, undercuts, thin walls, and negative features.

Just like SLA, SLS parts are also generally more isotropic than FDM parts. SLS parts have a slightly rough surface finish due to the powder particles, but almost no visible layer lines.

SLS 3D printing materials are ideal for a range of functional applications, from engineering consumer products to manufacturing and healthcare.

The material selection for SLS is limited compared to FDM and SLA, but the available materials have excellent mechanical characteristics, with strength resembling injection-molded parts. The most common material for selective laser sintering is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties. Nylon is lightweight, strong, and flexible, as well as stable against impact, chemicals, heat, UV light, water, and dirt.

Material	Description	Applications
Nylon 12	Strong, stiff, sturdy, and durable Impact-resistant and can endure repeated wear and tear Resistant to UV, light, heat, moisture, solvents, temperature, and water	Functional prototyping End-use parts Medical devices
Nylon 11	Similar properties to Nylon 12, but with a higher elasticity, elongation at break, and impact resistance, but lower stiffness	Functional prototyping End-use parts Medical devices
TPU	Flexible, elastic, and rubbery Resilient to deformation High UV stability Great shock absorption	Functional prototyping Flexible, rubber-like end-use parts Medical devices
Nylon composites	Nylon materials reinforced with glass, aluminum, or carbon fiber for added strength and rigidity	Functional prototyping Structural end-use parts

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Different 3D printing materials and processes have their own strengths and weaknesses that define their suitability for different applications. The following table provides a high level summary of some key characteristics and considerations.

	FDM	SLA	SLS
Pros	Low-cost consumer machines and materials available	Great value High accuracy Smooth surface finish Range of functional materials	Strong functional parts Design freedom No need for support structures
Cons	Low accuracy Low details Limited design compatibility High cost industrial machines if accuracy and high performance materials are needed	Sensitive to long exposure to UV light	More expensive hardware Limited material options
Applications	Low-cost rapid prototyping Basic proof-of-concept models Select end-use parts with high-end industrial machines and materials	Functional prototyping Patterns, molds, and tooling Dental applications Jewelry prototyping and casting Models and props	Functional prototyping Short-run, bridge, or custom manufacturing
Materials	Standard thermoplastics, such as ABS, PLA, and their various blends on consumer level machines. High performance composites on high cost industrial machines	Varieties of resin (thermosetting plastics). Standard, engineering (ABS-like, PP-like, flexible, heat-resistant), castable, dental, and medical (biocompatible).	Engineering thermoplastics. Nylon 11, Nylon 12, and their composites, thermoplastic elastomers such as TPU.

Beyond plastics, there are multiple 3D printing processes available for metal 3D printing.

Metal FDM

Metal FDM printers work similarly to traditional FDM printers, but use extrude metal rods held together by polymer binders. The finished “green” parts are then sintered in a furnace to remove the binder.

SLM and DMLS printers work similarly to SLS printers, but instead of fusing polymer powders, they fuse metal powder particles together layer by layer using a laser. SLM and DMLS 3D printers can create strong, accurate, and complex metal products, making this process ideal for aerospace, automotive, and medical applications.

Titanium is lightweight and has excellent mechanical characteristics. It is strong, hard and highly resistant to heat, oxidation, and acid.
Stainless steel has high strength, high ductility, and is resistant to corrosion.
Aluminum is a lightweight, durable, strong, and has good thermal properties.
Tool steel is a hard, scratch-resistant material that you can use to print end-use tools and other high-strength parts..
Nickel alloys have high tensile, creep and rupture strength and are heat and corrosion resistant.

Compared to plastic 3D printing technologies, metal 3D printing is substantially more costly and complex, limiting its accessibility to most businesses.

Alternatively, SLA 3D printing is well-suited for casting workflows that produce metal parts at a lower cost, with greater design freedom, and in less time than traditional methods.

Another alternative is electroplating SLA parts, which involves coating a plastic material in a layer of metal via electrolysis. This combines some of the best qualities of metal—strength, electrical conductivity, and resistance to corrosion and abrasion—with the specific properties of the primary (usually plastic) material.

Plastic 3D printing is well-suited to create patterns that can be cast to produce metal parts.

With all these materials and 3D printing options available, how can you make the right selection?

Here’s our three-step framework to choose the right 3D printing material for your application.

Plastics used for 3D printing have different chemical, optical, mechanical, and thermal characteristics that determine how the 3D printed parts will perform. As the intended use approaches real-world usage, performance requirements increase accordingly.

Requirement	Description	Recommendation
Low performance	For form and fit prototyping, conceptual modeling, and research and development, printed parts only need to meet low technical performance requirements. Example: A form prototype of a soup ladle for ergonomic testing. No functional performance requirements needed besides surface finish.	FDM: PLA SLA: Standard Resins, Clear Resin (transparent part), Draft Resin (fast printing)
Moderate performance	For validation or pre-production uses, printed parts must behave as closely to final production parts as possible for functional testing but do not have strict lifetime requirements. Example: A housing for electronic components to protect against sudden impact. Performance requirements include ability to absorb impact, housing needs to snap together and hold its shape.	FDM: ABS SLA: Engineering Resins SLS: Nylon 11, Nylon 12, TPU
High performance	For end-use parts, final 3D printed production parts must stand up to significant wear for a specific time period, whether that’s one day, one week, or several years. Example: Shoe outsoles. Performance requirements include strict lifetime testing with cyclic loading and unloading, color fastness over periods of years, amongst others like tear resistance.	FDM: Composites SLA: Engineering, Medical, Dental, or Jewelry Resins SLS: Nylon 11, Nylon 12, TPU, nylon composites

Once you’ve identified the performance requirements for your product, the next step is translating them into material requirements—the properties of a material that will satisfy those performance needs. You’ll typically find these metrics on a material’s data sheet.

Requirement	Description	Recommendation
Tensile strength	Resistance of a material to breaking under tension. High tensile strength is important for structural, load bearing, mechanical, or statical parts.	FDM: PLA SLA: Clear Resin, Rigid Resins SLS: Nylon 12, nylon composites
Flexural modulus	Resistance of a material to bending under load. Good indicator for either the stiffness (high modulus) or the flexibility (low modulus) of a material.	FDM: PLA (high), ABS (medium) SLA: Rigid Resins (high), Tough and Durable Resins (medium), Flexible and Elastic Resins (low) SLS: nylon composites (high), Nylon 12 (medium)
Elongation	Resistance of a material to breaking when stretched. Helps you compare flexible materials based on how much they can stretch. Also indicates if a material will deform first, or break suddenly.	FDM: ABS (medium), TPU (high) SLA: Tough and Durable Resins (medium), Polyurethane Resins (medium), Flexible and Elastic Resins (high) SLS: Nylon 12 (medium), Nylon 11 (medium), TPU (high)
Impact strength	Ability of a material to absorb shock and impact energy without breaking. Indicates toughness and durability, helps you figure out how easily a material will break when dropped on the ground or crashed into another object.	FDM: ABS, Nylon SLA: Tough 2000 Resin, Tough 1500 Resin, Grey Pro Resin, Durable Resin, Polyurethane Resins SLS: Nylon 12, Nylon 11, nylon composites
Heat deflection temperature	Temperature at which a sample deforms under a specified load. Indicates if a material is suitable for high temperature applications.	SLA: High Temp Resin, Rigid Resins SLS: Nylon 12, Nylon 11, nylon composites
Hardness (durometer)	Resistance of a material to surface deformation. Helps you identify the right “softness” for soft plastics, like rubber and elastomers for certain applications.	FDM: TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU
Tear strength	Resistance of a material to growth of cuts under tension. Important to assess the durability and the resistance to tearing of soft plastics and flexible materials, such as rubber.	FDM: TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin, Durable Resin SLS: Nylon 11, TPU
Creep	Creep is the tendency of a material to deform permanently under the influence of constant stress: tensile, compressive, shear, or flexural. Low creep indicates longevity for hard plastics and is crucial for structural parts.	FDM: ABS SLA: Polyurethane Resins, Rigid Resins SLS: Nylon 12, Nylon 11, nylon composites
Compression set	Permanent deformation after material has been compressed. Important for soft plastics and elastic applications, tells you if a material will return to its original shape after the load is removed.	FDM: TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU

For even more details on material properties, read our guide to about the most common mechanical and thermal properties.

Once you translate performance requirements to material requirements, you’ll most likely end up with a single material or a smaller group of materials that could be suitable for your application.

If there are multiple materials that fulfil your basic requirements, you can then look at a wider range of desired characteristics and consider the pros, cons, and trade-offs of the given materials and processes to make the final choice.

Try our interactive material wizard to find materials based on your application and the properties you care the most about from our growing library of materials. Do you have specific questions about 3D printing materials? Contact our experts.

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Ultimate Materials Guide - Tips for 3D Printing with PETG

Overview

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. There are several variations of this material in the market including PETG, PETE, and PETT. The tips in this article will apply to all of these PET-based filaments.

Glossy and smooth surface finish
Adheres well to the bed with negligible warping
Mostly odorless while printing

Poor bridging characteristics
Can produce thin hairs on the surface from stringing

Hardware Requirements

Before 3D printing with PET / PETG make sure your 3D printer meets the hardware requirements listed below to ensure the best print quality.

Bed

Temperature: 75-90 °C
Heated Bed Recommended
Enclosure Not Required

Build Surface

Glue Stick
Painter’s tape

Extruder

Temperature: 230-250 °C
No special hot-end required

Cooling

Part Cooling Fan Required

Best Practices

These tips will help you reduce the chances of common 3D printing issues associated with PET / PETG such as stringing, oozing, and poor bed adhesion.

Invest In a Good Build Surface

Some 3D printers come with a glass bed or blue painter’s tape installed on the bed. Although these surfaces might work fine for PETG, we recommend using a heated build platform for best results. The heated bed can significantly improve the first layer adhesion, making things much easier for future prints. Many of these heated beds come with a glass surface, allowing you to print directly on the bed without needing to apply any additional layers of tape or glue.

Calibrate Retraction Settings to Reduce Stringing

One of the few common issues that we see with PETG is stringing. These strings are thin hairs, similar to a spider web, that run between the different surface of your 3D print. Preventing these strings requires precisely calibrated retraction settings, so make sure to adjust your retraction distance and speed for the best results. Simplify3D also includes several useful features that can further reduce stringing. The first is called Coasting, which works by reducing the pressure in the nozzle right before the end of a segment. This way, when moving to the next segment, there is less pressure in the nozzle, so you are less likely to see stringing and oozing during that move. Another great option can be found on the Advanced tab of your Simplify3D process settings. By enabling the “avoid crossing outline for travel movements” option, the software will automatically adjust the travel movements of your print to stay on top of the interior of your model as much as possible. This means that the strings stay inside of your part where no one can see them, instead of being on the outside of your model. If you are looking for more tips to reduce stringing, we have an entire section dedicated to this issue on our Print Quality Guide: How to Reduce Stringing and Oozing.

Optimize Extruder Settings to Prevent Blobs and Zits

When 3D printing at higher temperatures associated with PETG, you may notice small blobs or zits on the surface of your model. These print defects typically occur at the beginning or end of each segment, where the extruder has to suddenly start or stop extruding plastic. There are several ways to eliminate these print defects such as enabling “Extra Restart Distance” or “Coasting” options located in the Extruder tab. Simplify3D also includes an option to perform a dynamic retraction, where the filament is retracted while the extruder is still moving. This completely eliminates blobs that are typically formed from a stationary retraction. To learn more about these features and other tips for reducing blobs on the surface of your print, please refer to our Print Quality Guide.

Pro-Tips

The glossy surface of PETG is especially useful when using rafts. The part separates easily from the raft and maintains a clean surface finish.
Try disabling your part cooling fan for the first few layers of the print to prevent warping. This trick especially works well for larger prints.

Get Started with PET / PETG

Now that you are ready to start printing with PET / PETG, here are a few ideas to help you get started – from common applications to popular filament brands.

Common Applications

Water proof applications
Snap fit components
Planter Pot

Sample Projects

Self-watering Planter
Water Bottle
Snap Fit Parts

Popular Brands

ColorFabb PETG
eSun PETG
E3D Spoolworks Edge
Hatchbox PETG
HobbyKing PETG

types, applications and features

3D printing enables rapid and cost-effective prototyping and production of models for a wide range of applications. But choosing the right 3D printing technology is only one side of the coin. Ultimately, the ability to create models with the required mechanical properties, functional characteristics or appearance will depend on the materials.

This comprehensive guide provides information on the most popular plastic and metal 3D printing materials available, compares their properties and applications, and provides guidance on how to select the most suitable material for your project.

Interactive Material

Need help choosing your 3D printing material? Our new interactive materials wizard will help you select the right material from our growing range of polymers, based on your intended application and the properties that matter most to you.

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Dozens of plastic materials are available for 3D printing. Each of them has unique properties suitable for specific applications. To make it easier to find the best material for a particular model or product, let's first look at the main types of plastics and the various 3D printing processes.

There are two main types of plastics:

thermoplastics are the most common type of plastics. The main feature that distinguishes them from thermosetting plastics is their ability to withstand multiple melting and solidification cycles. Thermoplastics can be heated and shaped into desired shapes. This process is reversible because no chemical bond is formed. As a result, they can be recycled or melted down and reused. Thermoplastics can be compared to butter: it melts and hardens many times. With each melting cycle, the properties of thermoplastics change slightly.
thermoset plastics (also called thermosets) remain permanently solid after polymerization. The polymers in thermosetting plastics are crosslinked during the polymerization process, which is induced by heat, light, or appropriate radiation. Thermoset plastics decompose when heated, rather than melt. In addition, they do not change their shape when cooled. It is not possible to recycle thermosetting plastics or restore the material to its original state. Thermosetting is like pie dough: once baked, the pie cannot be melted back into dough.

The three most common plastic 3D printing processes today are:

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printers melt and extrude thermoplastic filaments, which the printer's nozzle deposits layer by layer on the work area.
The Stereolithography (SLA) 3D Printer uses a laser to photopolymerize thermoset liquid polymers into a hardened plastic.
The Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) 3D Printer is equipped with a high power laser to sinter fine particles of thermoplastic powder.

How-to video

Can't find the 3D printing technology that best suits your needs? In this video tutorial, we compare Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM), Stereolithography (SLA), and Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) technologies in terms of the top factors to consider when purchasing.

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Fused fusion modeling (FDM), also known as fused filament manufacturing (FFF), is the most common form of consumer grade 3D printing, fueled by the rise of hobbyist 3D printers.

This method is well suited for making basic experimental models, as well as for quickly and inexpensively prototyping simple products, such as parts that are usually machined.

Consumer grade FDM has the lowest resolution and accuracy of any other plastic 3D printing process, making it unsuitable for printing complex designs or models with intricate features. It is possible to improve the surface quality of models printed using this technology using chemical and mechanical polishing processes. FDM-based industrial 3D printers, which offer a wider range of engineering thermoplastics, can solve these problems, but are also much more expensive.

Each layer is formed with a thermoplastic thread. Sometimes, if the layers are not completely adjacent to each other, there may be voids between them. As a result, anisotropic models are obtained, which is important to consider when designing products that must withstand load and be resistant to tension.

FDM 3D printing materials are available in a variety of colors. There are also various experimental mixtures of thermoplastic threads designed to create models with a surface that mimics wood or metal.

The most common materials for 3D printing in FDM technology are ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), PLA (polylactic acid) and various mixtures of these polymers. More advanced FDM printers can also print on other materials with different properties, such as increased temperature and chemical resistance, impact resistance, and rigidity.

9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 9008 Excellent vibration damping

Material	Features	Methods of use
ABS (acrylonitril-butadien-styrol)	Strong and durable Thermal and impact-resistant need for a heated printing platform		Easiest media to print with FDM technology Strong, tough but brittle Less resistant to temperature and chemicals The biodegradable does not have a smell of	Conceptual models Realistic prototypes
PETG (polyethylenertalatlatglycol)	is compatible with low printing temperatures .	Waterproof application Clip-on components
nylon	Hard, durable and light Strong and partially flexible heat -resistant and shockproof Complex for printing using FDM	Functional Prototypes Basement models
TPU (thermal polyurate)	Flexible Prototypes
PVA (polyvinyl alcohol)	Soluble support structure material The material for supporting structures
impact -resistant polystyrene	The material for creating soluble supporting structures, the most commonly used with ABS	Material for supporting structures
Composit materials (carbon, composite composite materials are dissolved in water. Kevlar, fiber optic)	Strong, tough and incredibly hard Only compatible with some expensive industrial 3D printers based on FDM technology	Functional prototypes Clamping fixtures, fixtures, tooling

Invented in the 1980s, stereolithography is the world's first 3D printing technology and is still one of the most popular among professionals today.

Models printed with stereolithography printers have the highest resolution and accuracy, the sharpest detail and the smoothest surface of any other plastic 3D printing technology. Resin 3D printing is a great option for producing highly detailed prototypes that require tight tolerances and smooth surfaces such as molds, templates, and functional models. Models printed using SLA technology can be easily polished and/or painted after printing, resulting in highly detailed finished products.

Models printed on SLA 3D printers are generally isotropic: their strength is more or less constant and independent of orientation, since chemical bonds occur between each layer. This results in models with predictable mechanical characteristics critical for applications such as fasteners, fixtures, finished products, and functional prototypes.

Stereolithography supports a wide range of plastic 3D printing materials.

SLA 3D printing is versatile and provides a wide range of optical, mechanical and thermal properties that match those of standard, engineering and industrial thermoplastics.

jewelry resins

Materials of FORMLABS	Characteristics	Methods of use
Standard polymers	High resolution Smote, matte surface	Conceptual models 958 Conceptual models	Conceptual Models Realistic prototypes
Clear Resin	The only truly transparent material for 3D printing from plastics can be polished to almost full optical transparency	models, which should be optically transparent
DRAFT REDI	One of the fastest 3D printing materials Prints 4x faster than standard resins and 10x faster than FDM	Initial prototypes Rapid iterations
Tough Resin and Durable Resin	Materials that are tough, strong, functional and dynamic Able to withstand compression, tension, bending and impact without breaking Various materials with properties similar to ABS	Enclosures and Enclosures Clamps and Mounting Devices Connectors Wear Prototypes
Rigid Resins	Highly filled, stiff and strong material, resistant to bending Resistant to temperature and chemicals Maintains dimension under load	Clamping and clamping fixtures, tooling Turbines and fan blades Fluid/air components Electrical enclosures and enclosures used in the automotive industry
High Temp Resin	High temperature resistant High Precision	Hot Air, Gas, and Liquid Components Heat Resistant Fasteners, Housings, and Fixtures Molds and Inserts
Flexible Resin and Elastic Resin	Flexibility of Rubber, TPU, or Silicone compression Withstand many successive cycles without wear	Consumer product prototypes Foldable structures for robotics Medical devices and anatomy models Props and models for special effects
Medical and dental resins	A wide range of biocompatible resins for the manufacture of medical and dental products	Dental and medical products, including surgical templates, dentures and prosthetic limbs
Lost Wax and Vulcanized Rubber Casting Materials Easy to cast, allows for intricate designs and retains shape well	Products for trying on Models for reusable press forms Jewelry to order
Ceramic Resin	Surface System, similar to the Firing Personal Product, the possibility of firing for creating a real ceramic product	Technical survival Unique articles 908

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Selective laser sintering (SLS) 3D printing is a technology trusted by engineers and manufacturers across industries to create durable and functional models. With its low model cost, high performance, and use of common materials, this technology is well suited for a wide range of applications, from rapid prototyping to low-volume production, limited trial runs, or custom-made products.

The green powder supports the model during printing and eliminates the need for special support structures. As a result, SLS is ideal for complex geometries, including internal features, undercuts, thin walls, and negative draft features.

Like stereolithography, SLS produces more isotropic models than FDM models. Models created with SLS technology have a slightly rough surface due to powder particles, but have almost no visible layer lines.

SLS 3D printing materials are ideal for a range of functional applications, from consumer product design to manufacturing and healthcare applications.

Compared to FDM and SLA technologies, SLS technology allows the use of a limited number of materials. However, the available materials have excellent mechanical properties. They have strength comparable to die-cast models. The most common selective laser sintering material is nylon, a popular engineering thermoplastic with excellent mechanical properties. Nylon is light, strong and flexible, resistant to impact, heat, chemicals, UV radiation, water and dirt.

Material	Description	Methods of use
Nylon 12 Powder	Strong, hard and durable Siberian, Solp. water	Functional prototypes End use products Medical devices
Nylon 11 Powder	Similar properties to Nylon 12 Powder. Possesses greater elasticity, elongation at break and impact resistance, but less rigidity	Functional prototypes Products for the final use of Medical devices
TPU	Flexible, elastic, elastic resistant to deformation High resistance to ultraviolet Excellent damping capacity	. end use Medical devices
Nylon composites	Nylon materials reinforced with glass, aluminum or fiberglass for greater strength and rigidity	Functional Prototypes Structural End-Use Products

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Different 3D printing materials and processes have their own advantages and disadvantages that make them suitable for different scenarios. The following table provides a brief overview of some of the main features and factors to consider. Disadvantages Poor accuracy
Poor detail
Limited conformance to design design
High cost of industrial devices if precision and high performance materials are required Susceptibility to prolonged UV exposure More expensive supply of materials More expensive2 Applications Inexpensive Rapid Prototyping
Basic experimental models
Production of special end-use products using professional industrial devices and materials Functional prototypes
Templates, molds and tooling
Dental products
Prototypes and molds for casting jewelry
Props and models Functional prototypes
Small-scale production, production of limited trial runs, creation of products to order Materials Standard thermoplastics such as ABS, PLA and their various blends on consumer grade devices. High performance composite materials on high value industrial applications Various polymers (thermosetting plastics). Standard, engineering (similar to ABS and PP, flexible, heat resistant), molding, dental and medical (biocompatible). Engineering thermoplastics. Nylon 11 Powder, Nylon 12 Powder and their composite materials, thermoplastic elastomers such as TPU.

There are several 3D printing processes not only from plastics, but also from metals.

Metal FDM printers are similar in design to traditional FDM printers, but use extruded metal rods held in place by a resin binder. The finished models are in an intermediate state and then sintered in an oven to remove the binder.

SLM and DMLS printers are similar to SLS printers, but instead of polymer powders, they fuse metal powder particles layer by layer using a laser. 3D printers based on SLM and DMLS technologies can create strong, precise and complex metal products, making this process ideal for the aerospace, automotive and medical industries.

Titanium is a light metal with excellent mechanical properties. It is strong, hard and highly resistant to heat, oxidation and acids.
stainless steel has high strength, ductility and corrosion resistance.
aluminum is a lightweight, durable, strong metal with good thermal properties.
Tool Steel is a hard, scratch-resistant material that can be used to print end-use tools and other high-strength products.
nickel alloys have high tensile, creep and tensile strength, as well as heat and corrosion resistance.

Compared to plastic 3D printing technologies, metal 3D printing is much more expensive and difficult, and therefore beyond the reach of most companies.

As an alternative to casting workflows that produce metal models cheaper and faster than traditional methods and provide greater design freedom, SLA 3D printing is well suited.

Another alternative is galvanization of SLA printed models. It involves applying a layer of metal to plastic using electrolysis. This combines some of the best qualities of metal (strength, electrical conductivity, corrosion and abrasion resistance) with the special properties of the base (usually plastic) material.

Plastic 3D printing is well suited for creating templates that can be cast to produce metal models.

With so many materials and options available for 3D printing, making the right choice can be difficult.

We provide a 3-step process for selecting the right material for 3D printing.

Plastics used for 3D printing have different chemical, optical, mechanical and thermal characteristics that affect the properties of 3D printed models. As you move from the intended use case to the actual operating environment, the performance requirements increase accordingly.

Requirement	Description	Recommendations
Low Efficiency	Example: Prototype mold for a ladle for ergonomic testing. Other than surface quality, there are no performance requirements.	FDM PLA SLA: Standard Resins, Clear Resin (transparency), Draft Resin (fast)
Medium Efficiency	For validation or pre-production use, printed models should have properties as close as possible to those of final production models , for functional testing, but do not meet stringent requirements regarding service life. Example: housing for electronic components to protect against sudden impacts. Functional characteristics include the ability to absorb impact energy. In addition, the body must snap into place and retain its shape.	FDM ABS SLA: Engineering Resins SLS: Nylon 11 Powder, Nylon 12 Powder, TPU
High Efficiency	Final 3D printed models need to be highly stable to achieve end use products to wear and tear over a certain period of time, whether it be a day, a week or several years. Example: shoe soles. Functional features include rigorous cycling and unloading life testing, color fastness over many years, and tear resistance, among other things.	FDM Composites SLA: Engineering, Medical, Dental or Jewelry Resins SLS: Nylon 11 Powder, Nylon 12 Powder, TPU, Nylon Composites

material requirements: material properties that will satisfy these requirements. These indicators are usually given in the technical specifications of the material.

Requirement	Description	Recommendation
Tensile strength	Resistance of material to fracture under tension. High tensile strength is important for structural, load-bearing, mechanical or static models.	FDM PLA SLA: Clear Resin, Rigid Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon Composites
Flex Modulus	Material resistance to bending under load. Indicates either rigidity (high value) or flexibility (low value) of the material.	FDM PLA (high), ABS (medium) SLA: Rigid Resin (high), Tough Resin and Durable Resin (medium), Flexible Resin and Elastic Resin (low) SLS: Nylon composite materials (high value), Nylon 12 Powder (medium value)
Elongation	Material resistance to tensile failure. Allows you to compare the degree of stretching of flexible materials. It also indicates whether the material is stretched or immediately destroyed.	FDM ABS (medium), TPU (high) SLA: Tough Resin and Durable Resin (medium), Flexible Resin and Elastic Resin (high) SLS: Nylon 12 Powder (medium), Nylon 11 Powder (medium), TPU (high)
Impact strength	The ability of a material to absorb impact and its energy without breaking. Shows toughness and durability. Allows you to determine how easily the material breaks when it falls to the ground or collides with another object.	FDM ABS, Nylon SLA: Tough 2000 Resin, Tough 1500 Resin, Gray Pro Resin, Durable Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon 11 Powder a certain load. Indicates whether the material is suitable for high temperature applications.	SLA: High Temp Resin, Rigid Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon composites
Hardness (durometer)	Material resistance to surface deformation. Allows you to determine the right degree of plasticity for soft plastics such as rubber and elastomers for a particular application.	FDM TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU
Tear resistance	Material resistance to notching under tension. This indicator is important for evaluating the durability and wear resistance of soft plastics and flexible materials such as rubber.	FDM TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin, Durable Resin SLS: Nylon 11 Powder, TPU
Creep	Creep is the tendency of a material to permanently deform under the influence of constant stress: tension or bending, compression, shear . Low creep indicates durability of hard plastics and is very important for structural models.	FDM ABS SLA: Rigid Resin SLS: Nylon 12 Powder, Nylon 9 composites0092
Compression set	Irreversible deformation after material compression. An important indicator for soft plastics and applications where elasticity is needed. Indicates whether the material will restore its original shape after the load is removed.	FDM TPU SLA: Flexible Resin, Elastic Resin SLS: TPU

For more information on material properties, see our guide to the most common mechanical and thermal properties.

By converting performance characteristics into material requirements, you can most likely find out which material, or small group of materials, is right for your application.

If several materials meet your basic requirements, a broader range of desired characteristics, as well as the advantages and disadvantages of these materials and processes, can be considered for the final selection.

Use our interactive material wizard. It will help you select the right materials from our growing range of polymers for your application and the properties that matter most to you. Do you have specific questions about 3D printing materials? Contact our experts.

Get material advice

Everything you need to know about 3D printing materials

Here's a guide to the materials used in today's industrial and home 3D printing.

When it comes to 3D printing, there is (almost) nothing impossible when it comes to materials, and researchers are constantly creating new ones.

There are certain "master" materials. The most common of these are plastics, ranging from industrial grade plastics like PEEK to very easy-to-handle plastics like PLA. Another common material is polymers, which are used in SLA printers. Composites are another category, and, as the name suggests, they are created (as if composed by a composer) by combining several materials, and the best is taken from each. The next large group of materials are metals. They are printed only by industrial machines.

In this guide, we will only consider commercially available 3D printing materials. This means that we have excluded those that cannot be bought in the store, such as biological ones.

So, it's time to start talking about what materials you can work with in 3D printing, about their applications, properties and technologies.

Which material should I choose?

Sorry, but it depends on a lot of circumstances. For example, if you need to print a food container, you will need a 3D printing material that is also food compatible, like PETG. If you want to see in advance and on a smaller scale what will then be made as a result of injection molding, then it is not necessary to immediately use expensive materials when thermoplastics such as nylon are available.

There are also additive technologies such as Binder Jetting (jet printing with a binder) or stereolithography, which greatly expanded the range of materials used in 3D printing. Many jobs that have been the domain of manual craftsmen for centuries are now automated and can be done by anyone with even the slightest understanding of 3D printing 3D modeling. Here you can point to the wide possibilities of producing full-color concepts, architectural models and visualization of art projects from paper (SDL), sandstone (Binder Jetting) and polymers (PolyJet). Thus, it can be said that 3D printing materials have led to a kind of democratization of rapid prototyping of design ideas.

Materials for 3D printing with metals have revealed forms and applications that were previously unimaginable. Nowadays, it is no longer surprising that the aerospace industry is creating complex one-piece structures that use less material than before, and are therefore lighter, resulting in lower fuel consumption for aircraft compared to traditional approaches.

PLASTIC

Most consumer goods today are made from thermoplastics, so this guide to 3D printing materials would be incomplete without them. And if we talk about widespread things, then here the plastics come out in all their glory. Designers and engineers prefer to create functional prototypes from 3D printing materials with the same or very similar properties as injection molding materials, the technology that creates the final product.

Most 3D printing thermoplastics can be handled at home in much the same way as professional solutions. The only thing is that some experts began to stare at laser sintering instead of filament fusing (FFF).

ABS

(Source: Wikipedia)

Do you remember the quality of Lego bricks? And this is ABS plastic, which is one of the most common materials for desktop 3D printing today.

It is completely inexpensive, strong and light. ABS filament comes in a variety of colors. There are some complaints about the smell that ABS emits when heated to its melting point, and if you're worried about that, there are alternatives like PLA. Because ABS is printed at temperatures between +220 and +250 °C, it is recommended to use a heated platform and in a closed working space so that the material cools in a controlled manner and does not warp. Also, 3D printing materials like ABS break down when exposed to atmospheric moisture, so you need to store them in airtight bags or containers.

Learn more about ABS: Everything you need to know about ABS filament for 3D printing

Technologies: FDM, resin inkjet, SLA, PolyJetting
Features: Rugged, lightweight, high resolution, quite flexible
Applications: architectural models, concepts, assembly models, serial production

PLA

Another crowd favorite in our guide to 3D printing materials is PLA, which is made from cornstarch (although sugar cane and tapioca are also available). This is a simple material that exudes a pleasant sweetish aroma when heated, which is why many people prefer it over ABS. In addition, it can print disposable tableware and does not shrink as much when cooled compared to ABS. However, PLA is not as durable as ABS, and is afraid of heat. Therefore, ABS is better for any working structures.

(Source: thingiverse)

Don't Miss: PLA Durability, Biodegradability Experiment

PLA is sold in a variety of colors and is found in many composites that give it the appearance of, for example, wood or metal. Like ABS, PLA filament breaks down when exposed to moisture in the air, so store it in airtight bags or containers.

Technologies: FDM, SLA, SLS
Characteristics: easy to print, no toxic smell when printed, food compatible
Applications: concepts, assembly models, functional models, serial production

Nylon (polyamide)

Due to its flexibility and strength, nylon has become a leader in a wide range of applications, from engineering to artistic. In some places it is simply called "white plastic". Nylon printouts have a rough surface that can be easily polished. Among FDM filaments, nylon has the strongest layer bonding, making it ideal for 3D printing parts that require high tensile strength and mechanical strength. Like other thermoplastics, nylon decomposes when exposed to ambient moisture and is best stored in airtight containers or bags.

Technologies: FDM, SLS
Characteristics: strong, smooth surface (after polishing), rather flexible, chemical resistant
Applications: concepts, functional models, medical applications, instruments, visual arts

PEEK

PEEK is another 3D printing material designed for heavy duty parts. Plastics of this family perfectly tolerate mechanical stresses, temperature fluctuations and chemical influences. And that's not it. PEEK parts can be irradiated with X-rays and gamma rays. And with such reliability, this material is easily processed and produced. But here there is an ambush in the temperature, which in a 3D printer should reach +400 ° C, and it is better to entrust such work to professionals. In addition to high cost, security considerations can also be an argument for abandoning it. PEEK materials with their excellent properties are used in the most demanding applications - automotive, aerospace, chemical and medical industries. In particular, medical instruments and semiconductor components can be mentioned.

Technologies: FDM, SLS
Characteristics: biocompatible, very durable, heat resistant, wear resistant
Applications: series production (automotive, aerospace, chemical and medical industries)

PET

Our next 3D printing material is PET, the material used to make plastic bottles, another alternative to ABS. Unlike ABS, PET does not stink when melted and is strong and flexible without the stench. More importantly, PET does not require heated print bed. The material gives a shiny surface, it is not hazardous to food, and this in some cases makes it a popular choice. Store PET materials for 3D printing in airtight bags or containers, the material is afraid of moisture.

Technologies: FDM
Characteristics: durable, food compatible, flexible, gives a smooth surface
Applications: assembly models, mass production, functional models

PETG

PETG is a version of PET combined with glycol that has received a number of desirable properties in the 3D printing business, such as high transparency. What's more, PETG materials can be printed at lower temperatures and at higher flow rates (up to 100 mm/s), which speeds up production. PETG objects are not afraid of the weather, so they can often be found in gardens. Another commercial quality is food compatibility. Store PETG in airtight bags or containers, the material is afraid of moisture.

Don't Miss: All You Need to Know About 3D Printing with PETG Filament

Technologies: FDM
Features: Rugged, food grade, all weather, flame retardant
Applications: concepts, assembly models, functional models, serial production

ULTEM

ULTEM is an amazing 3D printing material often found in demanding applications. On the one hand, the plastics of this family perfectly tolerate mechanical stresses, temperature fluctuations and chemical influences, but at the same time they are easy to process and obtain. The only problem is heat resistance, because the extrusion temperature in a 3D printer must reach +400 ° C, and for safety reasons, it is better not to do this work at home, but to entrust it to specialized 3D printing services. Due to its ruggedness, ULTEM is used in the most demanding applications in the automotive, aerospace, chemical and medical industries. It can be found in electrical circuits, medical instruments, and microchip sockets.

Technologies: FDM, SLS
Characteristics: biocompatible, very durable, heat resistant, wear resistant
Applications: series production (automotive, aerospace, chemical and medical industries)

HIPS

HIPS has two main applications. First of all, it is often used in FDM or SLA printing as a backing material because it dissolves in a substance called limonene. With similar properties, HIPS works best in combination with ABS. But, if you decipher the name of this plastic, and HIPS is High-Impact Polystyrene, i.e. high-impact polystyrene, it becomes clear why it is also widely used for the manufacture of containers and in general where increased impact resistance is important. When printing, HIPS gives off fumes, so the room must be ventilated, especially at home. Like many other materials for 3D printing, this one is also capricious in relation to environmental conditions, so it must be stored tightly.

Technologies: FDM, SLA
Characteristics: soluble, soft to the touch
Applications: assembly models, print stands, shipping containers

PVA

PVA, like HIPS, was designed as a soluble support material, but unlike all other similar materials, it dissolves in plain water. And, like most filaments, it needs to be stored in an airtight container.

Technologies: FDM
Characteristics: instant
Applications: assembly models, printing supports

COMPOSITES

Composites are filaments made up of several materials and using the best qualities of each. PLA, for example, can be paired with everything from wood to metal. Other composites are targeted at specific industries or applications and are used, for example, in engineering applications.

Conductive

A relatively new addition to the filament shelf are 3D printed conductive materials that open up many interesting possibilities. Such materials can be used, for example, in touch panels or in MIDI instruments. Other uses for conductive composites are wearable electronics, computer-to-computer interfaces, Arduino boards, and more for DIY projects. Conductive filaments for 3D printing are usually based on PLA or ABS, each with its pros and cons. Conductive ABS is more durable and heat-resistant than PLA-based, but has the same odor issues as regular ABS.

Technologies: FDM
Features: conductive
Applications: DIY projects

Metal-plastic filament

All "metal" filaments on the market are actually thermoplastics mixed with a small amount of metal. Such 3D printing materials allow you to create objects with the visual properties of these metals. Metal-plastic filaments are heavier than conventional thermoplastics. Popular composites for 3D printing are bronze, copper, steel, and iron. Keep in mind that these printouts require post-processing to make them look like metal. Also make sure your printer's nozzle can handle this material.

Technologies: FDM
Features: metal look
Applications: fine arts

Alumide

This is a nylon variant with aluminum particles. In terms of durability and physical characteristics, it is very similar to nylon. The difference is that it is shiny, wear-resistant and has a porous surface. Objects printed with aluminium can be very precise in size, durable and long lasting. Alumide, like other similar materials for 3D printing, lends itself well to various kinds of post-processing, such as polishing and coating.

Technologies: SLS
Features: Rugged, heat resistant, high resolution
Applications: DIY projects, functional prototypes, mass production

Wood

Human inquisitiveness knows no bounds, so it was only a matter of time before the engineers succeeded in adding wood fibers to plastic filament. Wood 3D prints can be processed like real ones, they can be sawn, sanded and painted. And while this kind of exotic 3D printing material is aesthetically pleasing, it doesn't have the same functional characteristics as the original. For example, you will not be able to make a chair out of it.

Interestingly, by changing the extrusion temperature, it is possible to change the shades of brown in the wood filament. 3D printing at a lower temperature produces a very light shade, while at a higher temperature it produces a solid dark brown. Therefore, if you decide to imitate growth rings in a printout, play with temperature. Depending on the brand of wood filament, the printing process may be accompanied by the smell of wood. Some manufacturers offer a wide selection of such material - birch, olive, bamboo, willow ...

Technologies: FDM
Characteristics: fragile
Applications: concept models, fine arts

METALS

Our guide to 3D printing materials would be incomplete without metals. Metal 3D printing has gained particular popularity in the aerospace, automotive and medical industries for its ability to create complex designs that do not require additional welding or machining. The disadvantage of these materials is that they require a lot of experience in development and combination.

In addition, they cannot be printed at home because they require high temperatures and large, specialized printers.

Learn more about 3D printing with metals in our comprehensive article Everything you need to know about 3D printing with metals wide range of applications. Basically, we are talking about different alloys based on it. Aluminum elements can have thin walls and complex geometries, they tolerate physical stresses and high temperatures well, which is extremely important for low-cost prototypes, functional models, in particular for engines in the automotive and aerospace industries.

Technologies: direct metal deposition, binder inkjet printing
Characteristics: light, strong, heat-resistant, not afraid of corrosion
Applications: functional models, series production (automotive and aerospace)

Cobalt Chrome

The next material on the list is used for very serious applications. Chrome-cobalt is sometimes referred to as chromium-cobalt-molybdenum or cobalt-chromium, and sometimes simply as a superalloy. Its main use is in medical applications and in the aerospace industry, where it can be found in turbines and jet engines. It has outstanding strength, heat and corrosion resistance and is suitable for fine work.

Technologies: direct metal laser sintering, SLM
Characteristics: biocompatible, durable, corrosion resistant, heat resistant, wear resistant, low electrical conductivity
Applications: series production (medical and aerospace)

Copper and Bronze

With rare exceptions, copper and bronze are used in investment casting processes and to a lesser extent in formed bed sintering. Due to their electrical conductivity, they are often used in electrical engineering. They are also very popular as art materials and with artisans.

Technologies: investment casting, formed layer sintering, direct metal deposition
Characteristics: electrical conductivity, wear resistance
Applications: series production (electrical engineering), fine arts

Inconel

Inconel is a super alloy designed for the most extreme conditions. It consists mainly of nickel and chromium and is extremely heat resistant. Also resistant to extreme pressures, Inconel is indispensable in the production of aircraft black boxes and even rocket engine parts. Even more often, these features are used in solutions for the oil and chemical industries. The material is very strong and difficult to process, so direct laser sintering is preferred to obtain products of the desired shape.

Technologies: direct metal laser sintering
Characteristics: heat resistant, wear resistant
Applications: Petroleum, chemical and aerospace industries

Nickel

Nickel alloys are popular for 3D printing applications. Nickel alloy elements are stronger and more durable than traditional methods such as casting. This, in turn, allows engineers to create thinner parts, leading to more fuel-efficient aircraft, for example. There are many types of alloys that combine the characteristics of nickel and other materials such as monel or inconel.

Technologies: formed bed sintering, direct metal deposition
Features: strong, lightweight
Applications: series production (automotive and aerospace)

Precious metals (gold, silver, platinum)

Most formed bed sintering companies can work with precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum. Here, in addition to the aesthetic qualities of materials, it is very important not to lose a single crumb of precious powder. Therefore, such parts are more often produced where a more easily controlled investment casting technology is used. Precious metals are used as materials for 3D printing in jewelry, medical solutions and electronics. Depending on the technology used, some of these materials may be used for casting.

Technologies: Formed-bed sintering, investment casting, bonded inkjet printing
Features: high resolution, smooth surface
Applications: jewelry, dentistry, functional models

Stainless steel

If you're looking for cheaper metal in this guide to 3D printing materials, it's stainless steel. It is also very durable and can be used in many industrial and even artistic applications. Stainless steel alloys containing cobalt or nickel are extremely difficult to break, but have excellent elasticity and good magnetic properties. If you need a different color - please: steel can be coated, for example, with gold. The materials in question are mainly used for industrial purposes.

Technologies: direct metal deposition, binder inkjet printing
Characteristics: high resolution, corrosion resistance, some flexibility, strength
Applications: tools, function models, mass production

Titanium

Pure titanium powder is often used in 3D printing. This is one of the most versatile materials - it is both durable and lightweight. They work with it using the technology of sintering in the formed layer or inkjet printing with a binder. It is most commonly found in demanding medical solutions, such as custom-made prostheses. Other uses for this material are parts and prototypes for aerospace, automotive and tool manufacturing. In addition to the price, it has another unpleasant feature - its powder explodes easily. Therefore, they print in a vacuum or in argon.

Technologies: formed bed sintering, binder inkjet printing, direct metal deposition
Features: biocompatible, high resolution, heat resistant, high wear resistance
Applications: tools, function models, mass production (automotive, aerospace and medical)

CERAMIC

(Source: SONY DSC)

Ceramic is such a popular material for 3D printing in specialized services that custom-made coffee mugs, for example, have become commonplace. And with specialized extruders such as the WASP Clay 2.0, ceramics are also relevant in home 3D printing.

Clay consists of kaolinite and some other minerals, as well as a certain amount of water, which gives it plasticity. After the ceramic piece is printed, it is cured in an oven. The water evaporates and the minerals fuse together, maintaining the object's shape and strength. To make the printout shine, it is covered with glaze and placed in the oven again.

Ceramics can be printed using both conventional FDM technology and complex methods such as SLA. Beginning "potters" are offered a choice: glass, porcelain or carborundum (silicon carbide). The resulting products are distinguished by heat resistance and wear resistance and today most often act as works of art, as well as dishes and dentures.

Technologies: FDM, binder inkjet, SLA
Characteristics: heat resistance, wear resistance, brittleness, porous surface
Applications: fine arts, serial production (dishes, dentistry)

WAX

Wax 3D prints are not usually the final product, but they are an important step in a long journey. They are relevant for very high resolution molding (0.025 mm), as well as for investment casting. They are often used in the creation of custom-made jewelry, and at a relatively low price. Another industry that uses this kind of 3D printing materials is dentistry. When creating complex structures, wax, due to its low melting point, is an excellent material for props.

Technologies: SLA, PolyJet
Features: high resolution, smooth surface
Applications: mass production (jewelry, dentistry)

PAPER

With selective deposition lamination (SDL) technology, good old stationery around the corner finds its niche in 3D printing. SDL objects are tree-like, full-color, and this makes them popular in architectural and other conceptual models. On the other hand, parts made from SDL are not as strong as those made from other materials and do not have the level of detail that those made from PolyJet plastic or plaster.

Technologies: Selective Deposition Lamination
Features: Cost effective, Recyclable, Full color
Applications: concept models, fine arts

SANDSTONE

Sandstone as a printing medium is sometimes referred to as gypsum (in fact, gypsum is a component of natural sandstone) and is used to create impressive full-color objects in one process. To enhance the color and add strength, the printouts are covered with a protective layer of epoxy, without this the moisture will do its job and the sandstone will discolour. Objects turn out to be fragile, like porcelain, and this must be taken into account at the design stage. Bearing in mind the capriciousness of sandstone, it is mainly used in architectural models, concept prototypes and art projects.

Technologies: FDM, binder inkjet, formed bed sintering
Features: fragile, full color
Applications: concept models, fine arts

(PHOTO)POLYMERS

(Photo: Nervous System)

Photopolymers are a type of liquid resin that hardens when exposed to ultraviolet (UV) electromagnetic radiation or visible light. Today, they work mainly on two technologies - SLA (stereolithography) and PolyJet. SLA uses a UV laser to project a slice of an object onto the surface of a photopolymer poured into a bath, which solidifies into the shape of the object's layer. This is repeated for all layers.
PolyJet technology takes a different approach. The printer directs a jet of resin onto a substrate, on which the resin is continuously cured by a UV lamp. SLA prints layers no thinner than 0.1 mm, and PolyJet produces up to 16 microns. And although the methods are similar and they use similar materials, the big difference lies in the methods of working with materials.

All photopolymers are sensitive to sunlight.

SLA Resins

Many SLA Resins are designed to mimic the different properties of the "traditional" materials discussed above. For example, there are materials that are compatible with wax, they are used to create impressions in investment casting. And if biocompatibility is important, then there are thermoplastics for SLA, which are very similar to PLA. Other SLA plastics can be as strong as ABS. There are even composite materials for SLA printing that have the properties of ceramics: the objects obtained on the printer can be put in an oven and then treated like ceramic.

Resins are an excellent choice for functional and conceptual models. They are especially good if you want to get a large object in a short time, while with a high level of detail. Some polymers even become hard enough for machining after quenching. In addition, high-temperature polymers are a cost-effective replacement for mold materials for low-volume castings.

The popularity of the SLA process lies in its excellent speed and accuracy. The downside is that polymers are still significantly more expensive than everything that was mentioned here.

SLA printers are sold, you can work with them both at home and in a small office and use very interesting materials for semi-professional 3D printing.

Technologies: SLA
Characteristics: smooth surface, some flexibility
Applications: concept models, functional models, fine arts, tools (prototypes)

PolyJet resins

(Source: Printshow)

Like SLA resins, PolyJet materials mimic the different properties of "traditional" 3D printing materials. Most PolyJet resins have fairly descriptive names. For example, rigur is designed for strength and sounds similar to the Latin root for hardness. It is also called "simulated propylene" for the similarity of the surface and functionality. A number of 3D printing materials are referred to as "digital ABS" because they are heat resistant and durable. Rubber-like materials are designed for non-slip surfaces and to absorb vibrations. Since there are so many PolyJet polymers, we decided to refrain from a detailed description of each of them.

It should be noted, however, that PolyJet polymers differ from SLA in that they allow obtaining the so-called. digital materials. These are mixtures of up to three 3D printing materials to obtain specific properties (strength, heat resistance, transparency, etc.) for a specific part and in a specific color range. This is a bright path to radiant prospects. While other materials described in this review allow you to create only a visual imitation of "traditional" objects, objects from PolyJet can also imitate tactile sensations, actually replacing reality.