Hey folks, you’ve seen PLA and ABS plastics but do you really know the difference? It’s hard to decide what kind of material you’d like your next model to printed in. I’ll list a few types of materials and talk about their properties. If you have any input or would like to discuss more materials then please add to this conversation.
PLA: Polylactic acid or polylactide
- Biodegradable
- Low Warp Through Printing
- Great For Office Use Environment
- Can Deform In Hot Car
- Good Detail
ABS: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
- Can Be Polished With Acetone
- Can Warp Through Printing
- Releases Toxic Fumes When Melted
- Very Sturdy and Hard (legos)
- Useful for Machines and Car Parts
PETG: Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol Comonomer
- Natural Color Is Very Clear
- Stronger Than ABS and PLA
- Chemical Resistant
- Good Detail
- Low Warp Through Printing
HIPS: High Impact Polystyrene
- Main Use As Dissolvable Support
- Stronger Than ABS
- Light Weight
TPE**: Thermoplastic Elastomers (aka Ninjaflex)**
- Very Strong
- Very Flexible
- Slower Print Speeds
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A good overview! But i think its important to point out that especially heated ABS creates fumes that are toxic because it contains butadiene styrene.
Good point, I’ll add that.
