Introduction
Choosing the right material type for your 3D printing project is not always the easiest task. There are various types of materials available in the market and sometimes it could be overwhelming to decide the right material.
In this blog post we will discuss some of the most commonly used 3D printing materials in 2023, their advantages and disadvantages and the applications they are suited for.
Polymers
ABS
ABS or Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is one of the most commonly used materials in 3D printing and for all the good reasons. ABS is easily available and easy to work with, comes in various colours and offers good quality and finish.
It is known especially for its high impact resistance at low temperatures and for creating lightweight parts. It is most often found in FFF 3D printing, though it is also available in resin form allowing for its use in vat polymerization methods.
Advantages:
Durability
Versatility
Low Cost
Disadvantages:
Strong odour & toxic fumes
Warping on large size parts
Not UV resistant
Applications:
Suited for general engineering prototyping where durability of parts is essential but not expected to last years. Very commonly used in jigs and fixtures, toy industry, automotive industry etc.
ASA
ASA is very much similar to ABS in general properties plus the added advantage of being UV resistant as well. ASA is well suited for engineering parts that are exposed to outside environment. Also experiments have shown that parts produced in ASA are slightly better in aesthetics compared to its younger brother ABS.
Advantages:
Durability
Versatility
Low Cost
Better aesthetics compared to ABS/PLA
Disadvantages:
Strong odour & toxic fumes
Warping on large size parts
Applications:
Similar to ABS, ASA is also suited for general engineering prototyping where durability of parts is essential but not expected to last years. And as discussed above, ASA has the added benefit of UV stability so parts are great for outdoor use and lasts longer. Also very commonly used in jigs and fixtures, toy industry, automotive industry etc.
Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a step up from ABS/ASA material. Polycarbonate offers stronger mechanical and stress resistant properties when compared to ABS/ASA material.
Advantages:
High tensile and flexural strength
Ideal for high strength prototypes
Extremely high heat deflection
Disadvantages:
Degrades in water
No flexibility
Prone to warping
Absorbs moisture from air
Applications:
Polycarbonate (PC) is also suited for general engineering prototyping where more strength and durability compared to ABS/ASA. PC is most commonly being used in the automotive and commercial equipment industry.
Nylon
Nylon is the eldest brother of materials when it comes to basic prototyping materials. It offers great mechanical properties and also offers good chemical resistance. It is also lightweight and flexible so more suited for applications where part is exposed to high degree of stresses.
Although Nylon can be printed on FFF systems as well, but it is more commonly used in SLS (Selective Laser Sintering process). Some Nylons are also biocompatible which makes them great for medical applications as well.
Advantages:
Very tough
High chemical resistance
Used to produce end use parts and expected to last longer
High heat resistance
Dimensional stability
If printed in SLS: No supports required which offers great design freedom.
Disadvantages:
Degrades in water
Extremely sensitive to moisture & must be kept in dry cabinets.
Applications:
Nylon is commonly used for not only high strength prototypes but also end use parts due to their exceptional durability and quality. Nylon is also great for live hinges and moving parts. It is commonly used in a lot of industries like automotive, commercial equipment, food industry, and medical (bio-compatible).
These are some of the most commonly used materials in 3D printing but we have only scratched the surface when it comes to the number of materials available in the 3D printing industry. Visit our 'Materials' page to have a look at the complete list of materials being offered.
This blog is just a basic guide, and if you would still like to discuss more about your specific material requirements, please get in touch with our expert engineers to discuss your project and they will be more than happy to help. Contact: info@additivehub.com.au
Thanks for reading and stay tuned for more upcoming posts!
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