Impact strength is defined as the amount of energy - generally expressed in kilojoules per square meter (kJ/m2) - that the material is able to absorb without breaking. It is an important material property for items like safety equipment and children’s toys. Synonymous with toughness, impact strength is the ability of a material or part to absorb shock and sudden impact without breaking. Impact StrengthĪnother key indicator of strength is impact strength. Weak materials include thermoplastic polyurethane ( TPU) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). Unlike tensile strength, this characteristic is expressed as a percentage.Īt the low-cost consumer level, the strongest 3D printer filaments in terms of tensile strength include polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PETG), and polylactic acid ( PLA). It is a key metric for almost any functional printed part.Īnother material characteristic, "Elongation at break," is related to tensile strength and refers to how much a material stretches before it breaks when under tension. It is expressed in megapascals (MPa) or, in the United States, in pounds per square inch (psi), and values are determined by performing a tensile test: literally pulling a piece of the material apart and using a tensometer to record the exact degree of tension at which the material breaks. Tensile strength is the most widely used indicator of strength for 3D printed parts, because it indicates a material’s suitability for load-bearing or mechanical applications. Used to indicate the ultimate strength of a material or part, tensile strength can be defined as the ability to resist breakage when under tension, i.e. Materials with good tensile strength are harder to break when pulled These are tensile strength and impact strength. However, two types of strength are generally prioritized over any other. But you could much more easily pull the chewing gum apart with your hands than you could the glass bottle.Īll of the various strength-related attributes are important when it comes to choosing and buying 3D printer filament. If you were to hurl the two objects at a wall, the glass would obviously break and the chewing gum would survive almost unscathed. For example, try to imagine the relative strength of a glass bottle and a piece of chewing gum. These different terms are needed because materials can be strong or weak in different ways. When comparing filaments, you’ll see terms like tensile strength, impact strength, tear strength, and flexural strength - all of which can be measured using standardized strength tests - in addition to more general terms like durability and toughness. Strong 3D printing filament is in high demand, but “strength” can actually mean a few different things in this context. It is by no means an exhaustive guide to high-strength materials, but it takes a look at some of the most popular high-strength filaments in the consumer sphere, while also touching on some professional-grade materials reserved for advanced users. This article looks at some candidates that could be considered the strongest 3D printer filament available to regular users of FDM 3D printers. Of course, end-use functional parts require greater strength than prototypes, and with demand for high-strength materials growing, many manufacturers have been happy to provide solutions. This is partly due to the cost of the stronger raw materials, and partly due to the increased use of 3D printing as a tool for end-use manufacturing, where professional and industrial customers can afford to pay high prices for the best products. Take a look at the filament market and it’s easy to see that the strongest 3D printer filament from a given retailer costs more than its weaker counterparts. Chief among these desirable properties, however, is strength: nobody wants their 3D printed parts to break, and getting the strongest 3D printer filament available is one of the best ways to ensure this doesn’t happen. These characteristics can include printability, durability, chemical resistance, temperature resistance, and flexibility, to name just a few. Good 3D printing materials tend to offer a mix of desirable characteristics.
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