Table of 3D Printer Materials
ABS
Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene is the most commonly used thermoplastic
Think “Legos”
HIPS
High impact polystyrene
High Impact Polystyrene is very similar to ABS in its printing properties, but works with different solvents (Limonene for HIPS vs acetone for ABS). Experiments are ongoing for using HIPS as a support material due to Limonene not affecting ABS, and a similar cost. Easy to paint and glue.
PLA
Polylactic acid is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from renewable resources, such as corn starch, tapioca roots, chips or starch, or sugarcane.
PLA is generally considered to be bio-degradable and has a pleasant odor. However, PLA is susceptible to temperature and therefor would not be ideal for a high temperature environment such as in contact with an extruder.
Nylon
Taulman’s “618″ is a high strength nylon co-polymer. It is very strong but tends to warp strongly, similar to ABS. Unlike ABS, however, it’s hard to get it to stick to the print surface.
PVA
Polyvinyl alcohol is a water-soluble synthetic polymer. It prints very easily and can be used as wash away support structure when using more than one extruders.
LayWOO D-3
LayWOOD is a a mixture of recycled wood fibers and polymer binders. The printed wood can be made to appear rough (similar to MDF) or to have a smoother surface.
Soft PLA
Soft PLA is a flexible 3D printing material that feels and acts much like rubber. It prints easily and support built into prints can be easily removed (unlike traditional PLA). Layer height is best kept down to maximize layer-to-layer bonding because the parts need to be extra strong as they are flexed in use.
PLA 4043D
4043D is a popular environmentally friendly form of PLA. It tends to extrude at lower temps than traditional PLA and tends to appear more like ABS once printed, than traditional PLA.
TPE
This is an “Thermoplastic elastomer”, also referred to as “thermoplastic rubber.” This filament extremely flexible and strong. Follow the above mentioned link to read more about TPE. 3D printed TPE feels much like rubber and bounces back into shape.
LAYBRICK
Prints can have a smooth or stone like texture. You can print LAYBRICK in a range of about 165°C to 210°C. In the lower range of 165°C to 190°C the print will come out mostly smooth, whereas higher than that it will begin to have a sandstone like texture. Fans are recommended when printing at higher temperatures.
Objects are paintable and grind-able. LAYBRICK Contains natural mineralic fillers (super-fine milled chalk).
BendLay
This is an extremely translucent material will allow you to print nearly clear items, while at the same time being remarkably resilient and elastic. BendLay is a modified Butadiene, which is safe for household and food products. BendLay has a high interlayer adhesion, making it a an easy-to-print filament. BendLay is soluble in brake cleaner.
T-glass
T-glase (or “Tee Glass”) is made of FDA approved polymers for direct food contact and containers. Printed parts have a clear, crystal-like quality. Prints easily on to acrylic, glass and PET film.