A Guide to 3D Printing Materials
With 3D printing, you have the power to manufacture and prototype parts for a wide variety of applications. It also enables you to achieve all of this in a quick and cost effective way. However, in order to make parts with the right mechanical properties, characteristics and aesthetics, the materials you choose are very important. As a 3D printing specialist team, we have written this guide to explore the different 3D printing materials available to you. We will also discuss the practical applications for different materials as well.
Plastic Materials
There are a wide range of plastic materials that can be used for 3D printing. Each of which is unique with individual qualities that make them perfect for specific use cases.
Thermoplastics
These are perhaps the most commonly used types of plastic. Different from thermosets, they can go through numerous melt and solidification cycles. Thermoplastics may also be heated and moulded into desired shapes. This is a reversible process, as no chemical bonding needs to take place. A benefit here is that it makes recycling or melting and reusing thermoplastics such as these possible.
Thermosetting Plastics
Also referred to as thermosets, thermosetting plastics remain in a constant solid state after curing. Polymers in thermosetting materials cross link during curing processes induced by heat, light or radiation.
These plastics will decompose when heated and will not melt. They also do not reform upon cooling. You can not recycle thermosets or return the materials used back into its base ingredients.
Nylon
One material that is popular in the plastics industry is nylon. It is a popular choice due to its toughness and flexibility. Nylon filaments usually require extruder temperatures near 250ºC. However, there are some brands that allow for lower temperature printing around 220ºC.
Metal Materials
Moving on from plastics, there are a range of materials that can be used for metal 3D printing. One example is metal FDM. FDM printers use extruded metal rods that are held together by polymer binders. Another example is SLM. Selective laser melting orks by fusing polymer powders. These printers will fuse metal powder particles together layer by layer using a laser.
Common metal 3D printing materials may include:
- Titanium
- Stainless steel
- Aluminium
- Tool steel
- Nickel alloys
Summary
Part of what makes 3D printing so valuable for prototyping and manufacturing is that there are a wide variety of materials available to use. From plastic materials such as thermoplastics and thermosets to common metals such as titanium and steel, there are many options to choose from.
Contact Us - 3D printing Specialist
As an experienced 3D printing specialist team, we at RAD Additive are passionate about turning ideas into a reality. So if you need to solve a problem or bring a new idea to life, get in touch with our expert team today and we’ll identify how 3D printing can help. We look forward to hearing from you!