3D printing filaments

==Description== 
Thermoplastic feedstock used by fused deposition 3D printers to create a finished product. 3D printing filaments are available in a multitude of compositions and colors. Pigments or other additives are added to the material before it is melted to create colored filament or filament with special properties, e.g. increased strength or magnetic properties. 
The process of transforming 3D printing filament into a 3D model
* The filament is fed into the FDM 3D printer.
* The thermoplastic is heated past its glass transition temperature inside the hotend.
* The filament is extruded and deposited by an extrusion head onto a build platform where it cools.
* The process is continuous, building up layers to create the model.
==Comparison Table==
Filament Type 	Pros 	Cons 	Print Temperature	Common Applications 	Recorded testsBrand name: number (dates)See note below.
PLA (Polylactic Acid) 	Easy to print, low temperature, good surface finish, low odor, biodegradable 	Brittle, low heat resistance, can warp 	180-230 C 	Prototyping, decorative objects, toys, temporary surgical implants 	
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) 	Strong, durable, high temperature resistance, good for functional parts, inexpensive 	Prone to warping, requires heated bed, strong odor, non-biodegradable 	210-250 C 	Functional parts, mechanical parts, enclosures 	* Imaterialise: 1(2019)
PET or PETG (Polyester, Polyester terephthalate glycol)	High strength and durability, flexible, recyclable, most commonly used, low odor, does not shrink or warp	Can be scratched easily, can absorb moisture, not easy to print 	210-235 C 	Almost anything, Food containers (select grades are food safe), bottles, mechanical parts	* Verbatim: 1(2018)* Keene Village Plastics: 1(2020)
Nylon (Polyamide) 	Very strong and durable, flexible, abrasion resistant, high temp resistance 	Absorbs moisture (proper storage needed), can be difficult to print, releases odor	220-260 C 	Functional parts, gears, bearings, tools 	* Taulman Bridge: 1(2018)* Ultimaker: 4(2017-2018)* Imaterialise: 2(2019)* Shapeways 2(2019-2020)
PMMA (Acrylic) 	Strong, durable and rigid; Transparent and impact resistant 	 	235-250 C 	light diffusers 	
PP (Polypropylene) 	Flexible, good chemical resistance 	Difficult to print 	210-230 C 	Flexible components 	* Verbatim: 2(2018)* Tuscan Industries: 1(1997)
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) 	Flexible, elastic, impact resistant, good for flexible parts 	Can be difficult to print, requires specific settings 	225-235 C 	Flexible parts, phone cases, gaskets, seals 	* Carbon3d: 1(2018)* Keene Village Plastics: 1(2020)
PC (Polycarbonate) 	Extremely strong and durable, high temperature resistance, impact resistant 	Difficult to print, requires high temperature, prone to warping 	270-310 C 	Functional parts, engineering prototypes, high-strength applications 	
ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) 	UV resistant, weather resistant, strong, durable, good for outdoor use 	Similar to ABS in printing difficulty, can have strong odor 	240-260 C 	Outdoor parts, automotive parts, weather-resistant applications 	
PEEK (Polyetheretherketone) 	Extremely high temperature resistance, chemically resistant, very strong 	Very expensive, very difficult to print, requires very high temperatures 	 	High-performance applications, aerospace, medical implants 	
Carbon Fiber Filled PLA 	Increased strength and stiffness, lightweight, improved dimensional stability 	Can be abrasive (wear on nozzles), more expensive 	190-230 C 	Structural parts, drones, robotics 	
Wood Filled 	Unique aesthetic, can be sanded and stained, gives a wood-like appearance 	Can be brittle, more difficult to print than PLA, can absorb moisture 	200-260 C 	Decorative objects, models, art projects 	
Metal filled (PLA or ABS) 	Realistic metal feel and weight, can be post-processed (e.g., polishing) 	Can be abrasive, printing needs fine tuning, more expensive 	195-220 C 	Decorative objects, models, tools, jewelry 	* Shapeways: Aluminum (2017)* Shapeways: Stainless steel (2017)* Imaterialise: Alumide (2019)
* Note: The AIC Materials Testing Results page provides information on Oddy tests that were completed on these materials. Access their database, then use the search box to locate materials of interest.
==Risks==
==Working Properties==
==Forms and Sizes==
* Common types are 1.75mm and 2.85mm
==Resources and Citations==
* 3D Insider: 16 Types of 3D Printing Materials accessed Feb 2025
* Wikipedia: [ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3D_printing_filament 3d Printing Filament] accessed Feb 2025
Category:Materials databaseCategory:MWGCategory: 3D Printing/CastingCategory:Comparisons