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The selection of 3D printed filament has become one of the key factors affecting the quality and efficiency of printing as 3D printing technology penetrates advanced fields such as aerospace, automotive lightweight, and biomedicine. The pursuit of strongest 3D printed filaments in all types of filaments has become a common goal for many professional users and enthusiasts.

These filaments have excellent mechanical strength to meet complex and changing printing requirements. From traditional PLA and ABS to new materials such as PETG glycol and nylon, each fiber has different characteristics and application scenarios, providing users with a wealth of choice. In this paper, the types of 3D-printed filaments will be discussed in depth, the advantages and disadvantages of each type of filaments will be analyzed, to help readers better understand and choose the appropriate filaments, in order to achieve the best printing effect.

What are the commonly used types of filaments for 3D printers?

1.Thermoplasticity (FDM technology）

·PLA (Polylactic Acid): An environmentally friendly biodegradable material that is easy to print, nontoxic and odorless, with a low melting point (~180 °C) and a smooth finish.

Advantages: convenient processing, low cost, environmental protection.

Weaknesses: high brittleness, high heat resistance (easy deformation above 60 degrees Celsius).

·ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene): High strength (tensile strength~50MPa), good abrasion resistance, high temperature resistance. Suitable for printing products with high strength and durability.

Strengths: Good toughness, smooth finish.

Weaknesses: High melting point (~250 °C), risk of release of toxic gases during printing.

·PETG (polyethylene terephthalate 1,4-cyclohexanediol): It is characterized by high strength, flexibility, transparency, high temperature resistance (~ 90 ℃), good printing stability and resistance to warping.

Strengths: Suitable for precision parts and flexible models.

Weaknesses: Small print temperature range (~220-260 °C).

·Carbon fiber reinforced PLA/nylon: Ultra-high strength (tensile strength~420MPa), lightweight, temperature resistance (~280 °C).

Strengths: Industrial-grade strength, suitable for extreme environments.

Weaknesses: Expensive and requires a dedicated printer.

2. Photosensitive resin (SLA technology)

·Standard photosensitive resin: Curing by ultraviolet or laser beam irradiation, high precision (micrometer level details), fast curing speed (second level).

Strengths: Smooth surface for complex geometric models.

Weaknesses: high brittleness, require for late cleaning, not heat resistant.

·High strength epoxy resin: Support structures are usually provided during 3D printing with a bending strength of~100MPa and resistance to high temperatures (~80-120 °C).

Strengths: Sturdy, suitable for functional components.

Weaknesses: High shrinkage rate and pungent odor.

3. Thermosetting materials (SLS Technology)

·Nylon (PA12/PA66): High strength (tensile strength~150MPa), wear resistance, good chemical stability.

Strengths: No support structure, suitable for long-term use of components.

Weaknesses: High moisture absorption, easy aging.

·TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane): Ultra-flexible (tensile deformation > 300%), low temperature (-40 °C), wear-resistant, oil resistance, solvent resistance.

Strengths: Good softness, good shock absorption performance.

Weaknesses: Low printing accuracy, easy edge warping.

Which type of filament performs the best in strength?

If the tensile strength of 120-140 MPa is a definite indicator (60% higher than conventional nylon), carbon fiber reinforced nylon (such as PA66/PA12 substrate) is the best option for plastic filaments. This material achieves a balance of strength and toughness through synergistic effects of carbon fiber (usually 15-30% weight) and nylon, as manifested by:

Tensile strength advantage

1. Strength range: 120-140 MPa (about 80-120 MPa for traditional pure nylon), meeting the requirements of high-intensity scenarios.

2. Strength enhancement mechanisms:

·Fiber orientation optimization: Carbon fibers is arranged along the printing direction to form a continuous stress transmission path.

·Interface enhancement: improve the adhesion of fiber to matrix and reduce interface slip by chemical modification such as silane coupling agents.

Key limitations: nozzle material requirements

1. Necessity of quenching steel nozzle: Abrasion resistance of carbon fiber particles: Carbon fiber has extremely high hardness (Mohs hardness~6-7) and rapidly wears down brass nozzles during printing (hardness~2-3), causing pore sizes to enlarge or become blocked, usually within 20 hours.

2. Solution: A Hardened steel nozzles (such as H13 or SKD61) must be used, with a surface hardness of HRC58-62 that can extend the nozzle life by hundreds of hours.

Which type of filament can withstand the high temperature of a car engine?

In extreme heat conditions, such as car engines (which typically operating temperatures of 200 to300 degrees Celsius, and in some cases more than 350 degrees Celsius), 3D-printed filaments that can withstand high temperatures must meet requirements for both temperature resistance, mechanical stability and chemical resistance. The selection and technical analysis of eligible materials are as follows:

1. PEEK(polyetheretherketone)

·Temperature resistance: 343 ° C, thermal deformation 315 ° C, long-term use up to 250-300 ° C.

·Super chemical resistance (to fuel and coolant corrosion resistance), suitable for the manufacture of oil circuit seals and high temperature pipelines.

·High mechanical strength (tensile strength~140MPa), self-lubrication, reduce friction losses.

2. Carbon fibre-reinforced nylon/ polylactic acid

·Temperature resistance: modified with a benzene ring structure, the maximum temperature resistance is 280 ° C (about 160 ° C for traditional carbon fiber materials). Plasma grafting tripled the antioxidant lifetime of the material at 280 ° C.

·Tensile strength 420MPa, lightweight (density 1.4g/cm3), suitable for engine lightweight components such as piston links. It costs less and has better process compatibility than metals.

How to prevent nylon filament from absorbing moisture?

Sealed storage: scientific protection with vacuum bag and dryers

1. Preparation work

·Cut and wash: Cut nylon filament into short segments (to avoid tangling) and place them in a clean, dust-free vacuum bag.

·Desiccant selection:

Long-term storage: Use a 3A molecular sieve desiccant (up 25% your weight in moisture absorption capacity and up to 6 months of service life).

Short-term emergency: Replacement of food grade silicone drying bags (to be replaced monthly).

2. Vacuum packaging

·Vacuum pumping technique: Use a vacuum pump to pull the air out of the bag completely, ensuring the moisture content is below 15% RH (household vacuum pumps can also meet basic needs).

·Dual protection: If conditions permit, wrap an aluminum foil around the vacuum bag to keep out outside moisture infiltration.

3. Storage environment requirements

·Temperature and humidity control: Store in a cool, shady place (ideal temperature 15-25 ° C, humidity<40% RH), away from high-humidity areas such as bathrooms and kitchens.

·Equipment assistance: It is recommended to use a dehumidifier (humidity control accuracy ± 5%) in industrial settings, and air conditioning dehumidification function can be used in the household.

Different types of nylon storage differences:

Nylon type	Moisture absorption rate (50% RH)	Sensitivity	Suggested sealing cycle
PA6 (Nylon 6)	12-15%	tall	≤ 3 months
PA66 (Nylon 66)	8-10%	centre	≤ 6 months
PA12 (Nylon 12)	10-12%	Lower	≤ 12 months

Emergency dehydration plan: operate the 80C oven with precision

1. Scenario

Nylon filament are exposed to humidity and need to be quickly restored to their properties.

2. Operational steps

·Pre-treatment: Spread the wet strands evenly on a baking tray (avoid buildup and ensure ventilation).

·Temperature control:

Dedicated oven: Heat the oven to 80C / gas 6 and place on a baking tray before preheating.

PA6 restriction: No baking at high temperatures! Switch to a low-temperature air dryer at 40-60 °C (continuous stirring or flipping of filaments is required).

Cooling test: After drying, place room temperature (to avoid stress cracking due to sudden cooling) to check that the surface is dry and uniform.

3. Technical principles

·High temperature resistance: Molecular chains contain chlorine atoms, which are chemically stable at high temperatures and are not susceptible to oxidation or yellowing.

·Fragility of PA6: Lack of chlorine element and high temperatures can cause chain breakage and oxidation reactions, leading to yellowing and decreased strength.

4. Preventive measures

·Baking duration: Too much baking time can cause nylon to brittle. Samples are recommended for testing every 2 hours.

·Alternative solution: If there is no oven, use an industrial dehumidifier (humidity<30% RH) to cycle and dry for 12-24 hours.

What is the best PETG for outdoor use?

1. The the best PETG filament in extreme outdoor environments with high temperatures, UV rays, humidity or dust should have the following characteristics:

·Anti-UV aging: Add UV absorbers (such as carbon black or HALS stabilizers) to prevent yellowing and brittleness due to prolonged exposure.

·Wide-range temperature tolerance: ≥ 260 ° C melting point, up to 280 ° C short term, flexibility at low temperature (-30 ° C).

·Chemical corrosion resistance: rain, salt mist, weak acidity and alkalinity (pH 2-12).

·Strength and toughness: tensile strength ≥ 60MPa, impact strength ≥ 5kJ/m (superior to ordinary PETG).

2. Key Performance Comparison (Ordinary vs. outdoor grade PETG)

Characteristic	Ordinary PETG	Outdoor grade PETG
UV resistance	Yellowing cycle<6 months	>2 years
Temperature resistance range	Melting point 260 ° C	Melting point 260 ° C + temperature fluctuation resistance
Impact resistance	Izod notch impact 5kJ/m ²	≥8kJ/m²
Moisture absorption rate	≤1.5%（23°C/50%RH）	≤ 0.8% (under the same conditions)

3. Notes on Use

·Printing parameter optimization:

Extrusion temperature: 240-260 ° C is recommended (to avoid degradation due to overheating).

Interlayer adhesion: Increased printing speed (≤ 40mm/s) is appropriate to enhance interlayer bonding.

·Post processing:

Surface coating: can be sprayed with polyurethane or acrylic coatings to further enhance weather resistance.

Periodic inspection: material performance should be checked every 6 months for prolonged outdoor use.

What are the main factors determining the fatigue life of components made from Strongest 3D printer film?

The following are the main determinants of fatigue life of components of strongest 3D printer filament (e.g. carbon fibre-reinforced nylon/ polyethylene lactic acid), combined with material properties and process optimization:

Intrinsic properties of materials

1. Fiber orientation: The distribution of carbon fibers along the printing direction (e.g. Z axis direction) can significantly increase stress transfer efficiency and reduce fatigue crack production.

2. Additives and modifiers: Antioxidants are used to slow the degradation of substances caused by high-temperature oxidation and increase fatigue life (at 200 ° C, antioxidants can double their lifespan).

Printing process parameters

1. Extrusion temperature and speed

·High temperature (>270 ° C) leads to matrix degradation, while low temperature (<230 ° C) affects fiber dispersion.

·Interlayer temperature consistency: Printing intervals between layers should be limited to 5-10 seconds to avoid residual stress due to temperature differences (which can reduce fatigue crack rate by 40%).

2. Layer thickness and filling rate

·Thin-layer printing (0.1-0.2mm): improves surface roughness and reduces stress concentration (increases fatigue life by 25%).

·High filling rate (>30% carbon fiber): Increases material rigidity at the expense of some toughness (requires gradient filling optimization).

3. Support for structural design

Grid support: use honeycomb support structure in suspension area to reduce local stress concentration (can extend fatigue life by 30%).

Geometric Design and Load Conditions Members

1. Optimization of stress concentration points

·Rounded corner design: When R ≥ 0.5mm, the stress concentration factor (Kt) can be reduced to less than 1.5 (3-5 for sharp angle Kt).

·Topology optimization: Eliminating redundant materials by using finite element analysis (FEA) allows load to be evenly distributed (e.g., LS company's space bracket increases fatigue life by 40%).

2. Dynamic Load Type

·Alternating load frequency: High frequency vibration (greater than100Hz) accelerates fatigue failure and requires damping design (e.g. rubber toughening agents).

·Multiaxial stress state: Avoid pure shear stress or alternating tension compression load, and give priority to designing a simple loading path dominated by unidirectional stress.

The fatigue life of the filament assembly of Strongest 3D printer filament depends on three core factors: material fiber orientation, printing process control, geometric design and load matching. By optimizing carbon fiber dispersion, using thin-layer high-frequency printing, and designing a stress-resistant centralized structure, the cycle life of more than 10 weeks can be achieved to meet the needs of high-end scenarios such as aerospace and automotive industries.

How to avoid counterfeit metal filament scams?

Key points for identifying silk

1. Real metal signs and technical barriers

·Equipment requirements: SLM/DMLS equipment is necessary for the manufacture of genuine metal parts, with a layer thickness of < 30 microns to ensure microstructure the compactness. The sintering density of eligible wire should be be > 99% (e.g. Ti-6 Al-4V of titanium alloy a density of 4.4g/cm 3).

·Material certification: Formal wire requires material composition analysis reports (such as EDS/XRF testing) and heat treatment process certification, which are often lacking in counterfeit products.

2. Low-Cost Alternative Solutions (Stainless Steel PLA)

·Performance limitations: The density after sintering is only 92%, which is much lower than the density of the actual metal, but can mimic the appearance of metal (e.g. nickel) through a surface coating and is suitable for decorative parts (e.g. model shells).

·Cost advantages: the price is only 1/10 of the length of real silk, but clearly marked imitation metal words, to avoid misleading.

Dentifying Scams

1. Technical parameter trap: Some manufacturers falsely claim that metal filament can be used with FDM/FF equipment, but in reality it is a cheap composite material (such as tempered glass PLA) laced with metal powder. Real titanium alloy have a tensile strength of more than 900MPa, while counterfeit metals typically have a tensile strength of less than 100 MPa.

2. Supplier qualification verification: Priority is given to manufacturers certified by ISO 9001 (Quality Management) and ASTMF2924 (Specification for Additive Manufacturing).

How does LS company utilize the 5 mainstream filament types?

Summary

Disclaimer

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LS Team

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