3D Printing Filaments

Part Number	Description / PDF	Quantity
RM-PL0287 LulzBot	3D-FUEL, STANDARD PLA, INDUSTRIA	9
RM-TE0104 LulzBot	FIRE NINJAFLEX TPU FILAMENT, 3MM	1
RM-NY0010 LulzBot	FILAMENT CLR TPE 0.118" 453.59G	1
RM-MS0027 LulzBot	FILAMENT GREEN TPC 750G	2
RM-AB0138 LulzBot	FILAMENT WHITE ABS 0.118" 2.3KG	0
RM-PL0143 LulzBot	FILAMENT RED PLA 0.112" 3KG	6
RM-PY0006 LulzBot	FILAMENT CLEAR TPC 0.118" 700G	0
RM-PL0283 LulzBot	3D-FUEL, STANDARD PLA, GRASS GRE	0
RM-MS0033 LulzBot	FILAMENT GREEN TPC 750G	0
RM-PE0017 LulzBot	IC3D PETG, BLACK, 1.75MM FILAMEN	10
RM-PL0128 LulzBot	FILAMENT WHITE PLA 0.112" 1KG	15
RM-PL0129 LulzBot	FILAMENT ORANGE PLA 0.112" 1KG	2
RM-PL0130 LulzBot	FILAMENT YELLOW PLA 0.112" 1KG	4
RM-MT0002 LulzBot	FILAMENT COPPER PLA 0.112" 750G	0
RM-PE0021 LulzBot	IC3D PETG, GREEN (BRIGHT), 1.75M	0
RM-AB0122 LulzBot	FILAMENT NATURAL ABS 0.112" 1KG	7
RM-PL0144 LulzBot	FILAMENT WHITE PLA 0.112" 3KG	2
RM-AB0147 LulzBot	IC3D ABS LULZBOT GREEN, 1.75MM F	3
RM-NY0011 LulzBot	FILAMENT NATURAL 0.118" 453.59G	10
RM-PL0262 LulzBot	3D-FUEL, STANDARD PLA, WARM BISQ	0

3D Printing Filaments

1. Overview

3D printing filaments are thermoplastic materials used as feedstock in fused deposition modeling (FDM) and fused filament fabrication (FFF) 3D printers. These polymer-based materials melt at specific temperatures and solidify into complex geometries through layer-by-layer deposition. As core consumables in additive manufacturing, filaments enable rapid prototyping, small-batch production, and customized manufacturing across industries. Their material properties directly determine printed parts' mechanical strength, thermal resistance, and functional performance.

2. Major Types and Functional Classification

Type	Functional Characteristics	Application Examples
PLA (Polylactic Acid)	Biodegradable, low warping, 60-65 C heat resistance	Prototyping, educational models, food packaging
ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)	High impact resistance, 100 C heat resistance, requires heated bed	Industrial enclosures, automotive parts
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)	Chemical resistance, food-safe, moderate flexibility	Mechanical parts, medical devices
Nylon	High strength-to-weight ratio, abrasion resistance	Gears, bearings, functional tools
TPU/TPE (Thermoplastic Polyurethane/Elastomer)	Flexible (Shore 60A-95A), vibration damping	Footwear midsoles, protective cases
PC (Polycarbonate)	Optical clarity, 110 C heat resistance, requires 260 C+ printing	Aerospace components, safety equipment

3. Structure and Composition

Typical 3D printing filaments feature a semi-crystalline or amorphous polymer matrix with diameter precision of 0.02mm (1.75mm or 2.85mm standards). Key structural elements include:

Base polymer resin (e.g., PLA, ABS)
Plasticizers for flexibility control
Stabilizers for thermal degradation resistance
Pigments for coloration (optional)
Fillers (glass/carbon fibers, minerals) for property enhancement

Advanced composite filaments incorporate 5-40% by weight of reinforcing materials like carbon nanotubes or metal powders.

4. Key Technical Specifications

Parameter	Importance	Typical Range
Tensile Strength	Determines load-bearing capacity	20-100 MPa
Elongation at Break	Indicates ductility	3-300%
Heat Deflection Temperature	Thermal stability threshold	50-150 C
Shrinkage Rate	Affects dimensional accuracy	0.2-2.0%
Moisture Absorption	Impacts print quality consistency	0.1-1.5% @ 50% RH
Melt Flow Index	Correlates with extrusion performance	2-20 g/10min (190 C)

5. Application Fields

Primary industries utilizing filament-based 3D printing include:

Aerospace: Stratasys Fortus systems for UAV components
Healthcare: Formnext-certified medical guides using PEEK filaments
Automotive: BMW's customized jigs with carbon fiber-reinforced nylon
Consumer Goods: Nike's midsole prototypes with TPU materials
Education: STEM training using desktop FDM printers

Typical equipment: Prusa i3 MK3S, Creality Ender-3, industrial systems from 3D Systems and Materialise.

6. Leading Manufacturers and Products

Manufacturer	Representative Product	Key Feature
Stratasys	Antero 800PE	PEKK-based aerospace-grade material
3D Verkstan	HT-PLA	Heat-treated PLA with 120 C heat resistance
Essentium	Fast TPU 80A	High-speed printing (500mm/s) flexible filament
Arkema	Sarten Metamorph	High-temperature resistant PA11 for industrial applications
ColorFabb	nGen Flex	Recreus-branded engineering-grade TPE

7. Selection Recommendations

Key considerations for filament selection:

Mechanical requirements (static vs dynamic loading)
Environmental exposure (temperature, UV, chemicals)
Printer compatibility (nozzle temperature, enclosed chamber)
Cost-performance balance (standard vs premium materials)
Regulatory compliance (FDA, UL, REACH certifications)
Post-processing needs (annealing, vapor smoothing)

Case Study: Automotive ducting applications often select PETG for its balance of chemical resistance and formability versus nylon's superior wear resistance at higher cost.

8. Industry Trends

Market developments include:

Biodegradable composites (PLA/PHA blends) addressing sustainability
Conductive filaments (graphene-infused ABS) for EMI shielding
AI-driven material property prediction platforms
High-temperature polymers (PEEK, PEKK) for metal replacement
Recycling systems for industrial filament waste streams

According to SmarTech Analysis, the global filament market will reach $3.2B by 2027 with 18.4% CAGR, driven by production-grade materials adoption.