Guide to the properties of filaments for 3D printing


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The guide contains a detailed description of the physical and mechanical properties of BCN3D filaments and their resistance to impact, heat and water.

Przewodnik po właściwościach filamentów do druku 3D

The 3D printing process begins long before you press the button to start printing. When the range of applications is very wide, from food packaging to industrial machinery, it is very important to choose materials according to their physical and mechanical properties, and it is worth paying attention to whether resistance to impact, heat or chemicals is required.

Physical and mechanical properties of filaments for 3D printers

3D printing materials can be divided into categories based on their stress versus strain curve.

PLA filament is one of the most popular filaments used for printing in FFF technology. This material is perfect for both beginners and professionals. It is used in the production of figurines, gadgets and prototyping. Compared to ABS filament, its melting point during printing is lower and it does not emit harmful fumes. PLA is a stiff and highly deformation-resistant material, which is also brittle - which determines its use mainly for visual prototyping.

ABS filament is a technical material characterized by high durability. ABS has a large shrinkage during printing. In order for the printed model to be successful, a high printing temperature (240ºC - 260ºC) and a heated print bed (80ºC - 110ºC) must be used. ABS is a hard and chemical-resistant material so it is less susceptible to cracking, which makes it perfect for the production of moving parts and elements used in industry.

Filament PA is a semi-flexible material characterized by high impact resistance and the ability to work at temperatures up to 120ºC for a long time . PA has good resistance to oils and alkalis and exhibits an initial degree of stiffness at small deformations and is able to withstand significant deformation before failure.

TPU filament is a flexible material resistant to large deformations and impacts. TPU has rubber propertieswhich makes the prints extremely flexible and durable. It is ideal, for example, for the production of car parts.

General tensile behavior of various materials General tensile behavior of various materials

All BCN3D materials except PP filament have a tensile strength higher than 25 MPa, which makes them ideal materials for creating structural parts.

PP is a hard, flexible and chemically resistant material that is also safe for contact with food. Thanks to its properties, it has a wide range of applications.

The most tensile-resistant materials in the BCN3D portfolio are PLA and PAHT CF15.

PAHT CF15 is a high-temperature carbon fiber-reinforced material that is characterized by the ability to work at high temperatures and chemical resistance.

Comparison of the maximum tensile strength of BCN3D materials Comparison of the maximum tensile strength of BCN3D materials

The chart below shows the unique elastomeric properties of the TPU 98A filament. PA and PP materials behave like semi-flexible materials, and PET-G filament stands out good elongation of 23%, which gives an overall better mechanical profile compared to PLA.

PET-G is a material characterized by high strength and flexibility. Perfect for the production of handles and parts resistant to grease, gasoline and oil.

PAHT CF15 and PP GF30 materials are characterized by low elongation at break due to the stiffness provided by the added fibers.

Comparison of elongation at break of BCN3D materials Comparison of elongation at break of BCN3D materials

In terms of stiffness, the best composite fibers are: PAHT CF15 with a modulus of 5.1 GPa and PP GF30 with a modulus of 2.6 GPa. Carbon and glass fiber provide high dimensional stability, preventing the polymer chains from slipping and thus reducing the plasticity of the mixture.

Comparison of the Young's modulus of BCN3D materials Comparison of the Young's modulus of BCN3D materials

Impact resistance of filaments

The graph below shows the impact energy of BCN3D filaments, expressed in KJ/m2. The first thing that catches the eye is the high impact energy of PA, resulting from its flexibility and semi-crystalline nature. However, PA is not stiff, and for applications where a combination of stiffness and strength is required, ABS is the ideal solution.

Comparison of impact resistance of BCN3D materials Comparison of impact resistance of BCN3D materials

The deflection temperature of the filaments under the influence of heat

The following graph shows the heat deflection temperature of BCN3Dmaterials. PP GF30 and PAHT filaments can be exposed to temperatures above 100ºC, while ABS and PA materials are suitable for intermediate conditions. BCN3D's basic filaments cannot be exposed to high temperatures.

Deflection temperature under load (0.45 MPa) of BCN3D materials Deflection temperature under load (0.45 MPa) of BCN3D materials

The effect of chemicals on filaments

Chemicals and water can cause a lot of damage. Therefore, to obtain acid resistance, you should familiarize yourself with materials such as PP and PP GF30. PP, PP GF30 and PET-G filaments are waterproof, but in case of contact with solvents, PP filaments and PP GF30 filaments are recommended.

Chemical resistance of BCN3D materials Chemical resistance of BCN3D materials

Evaluating material properties and selecting the right filament should always be at the top of the list in the process of creating a perfect print.

Source: bcn3d.com

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