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There are many materials that are being explored for 3D Printing. However, you will find that the two dominant plastics are ABS and PLA. Both ABS and PLA are known as thermoplastics; they become soft and moldable when heated, and return to a solid when cooled. This process can be repeated again and again. Their ability to melt and be processed again is what has made them so prevalent in society, and is also why most of the plastics you interact with on a daily basis are thermoplastics.

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)

Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) has been used for many years to make all kinds of things, including the popular children's toy LEGO®. ABS is light, durable, and surprisingly strong, making it a popular choice for tools and utensils, as well as toys.

 

ABS is a sturdy plastic that allows prints to have a great resistance to high temperatures, so it can be used for printing things like containers that hold hot liquids. However, because of this high resistance to heat, ABS must be extruded at a very high temperature (260 degrees) and must be printed onto a heated print bed.

 

The high level of heat needed to extrude ABS can raise a safety concern if your printer isn't enclosed from children's small hands. Both the extruder and print bed can be extremely hot before, during and after the printing process. The reliance of ABS filament on high temperatures during the printing process can cause warping. If your printer is open to cool air and drafts, the consistency of your print bed temperature can become compromised, resulting in ruined prints.

Polylactic Acid (PLA)

In home 3D printing, the rival to ABS is Polylactic Acid (PLA). PLA is a plastic derived from renewable resources such as corn starch, tapioca roots and sugar cane. Because PLA is made from natural resources, it is a highly cost-effective way to produce 3D prints.


PLA generally runs at around $8 to $10 cheaper than ABS for a 2.2 lb roll. Another big plus to PLA being made from renewable resources is that it is biodegradable and recyclable. Because PLA can be recycled to monomer by thermal depolymerization, or hydrolysis, the monomer (when purified) can be used for the manufacture of virgin PLA.

 

Like other plastics, PLA is used by FDM (fused deposition modeling) printers, but can be extruded at a lower temperature than ABS plastics due to its low glass transition temperature.   The main downfall of prints made with PLA is performance in high temperatures. Due to PLA’s relatively low glass transition temperature, it loses its strength as it heats up. So if you wanted to print a coffee cup, for example, you would need to use ABS instead of PLA, as the heat from the hot liquid will cause PLA to warp and “melt”. PLA isn’t as strong as its more expensive counterpart, but it’s often strong enough and a very popular choice for manufacturers and home users alike.

PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)

PVA is a special plastic that is water-soluble. It is most commonly used as paper adhesive, as a thickener, as packaging film, in feminine hygiene and adult incontinence products, as a mold release agent, or in children's play putty or slime. Another wide use is in freshwater sport fishing, where PVA bags filled with bait are thrown into the water. The bag rapidly dissolves, releasing the bait, in order to attract the fish.

 

In 3D printing, PVA is sometimes used in printers with dual or multiple-extruders, in order to provide a support structure to an object with overhang issues. Some complex prints involving lots of overhangs (areas where there is no support under the upper layers) can be realised only by printing such a support structure. Otherwise, the printed structure would warp or simply collapse. The finished object can be put into water until the PVA has completely dissolved, freeing the object of the support structure, without the need of any pesky manual post-printing curing.


PVA is normally extruded at a temperature of 190°C, but is not very easy to use, as it attracts water so much. Ambient air moisture will deteriorate the filament very quickly. PVA needs to be stored in a sealed box or container and may need to be dried before use. Other disadvantages of PVA include its high price and difficulty in sourcing.

Filament Diameter and Filament Sources

Once you have chosen the appropriate material, you should check whether the filament diameter is compatible with your printer before ordering. The two standard diameter sizes for filament are 1.75mm or 3mm. Only some printer models can accept both of these, and you should always check what diameter your printer can use.


Filament is generally sold at its weight price. Spools of 1.75 mm or 3mm are standard sizes, although some materials are sold by the meter or in loose coils (especially the more exotic filament colors or plastic types). As to quality, some people argue to only buy from reputable suppliers, but these filaments may come with a certain price tag. Others have made great experiences with relatively cheap filament. In the end, it probably comes down to experimenting with filaments from various sources, before finding the one that suits your needs best.