Student Material 001: FDM Material Properties Reference Table

Material ID: U1M1-MAT-001 Purpose: Quick reference guide for material selection and print settings Format: Comparison table with standard materials and key properties Updated: 2026-03-18

Quick Material Selection Guide

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

Best For: Prototypes, visual models, beginner projects, environmental sensitivity Avoid For: Heat-resistant parts, outdoor use (UV degrades), parts exposed to >60°C

Property	Value	Notes
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)	60-65°C	Lowest of common materials; easy to print
Melting Point Range	150-180°C	Sharp transition; amorphous material
Nozzle Temperature	200-210°C	Start at 200°C; increase if under-extruding
Bed Temperature	20-60°C	Can print at room temp; 50-60°C for better adhesion
Tensile Strength	50-70 MPa (injection-molded); 40-55 MPa parallel / 20-30 MPa perpendicular (3D-printed, anisotropic)	Brittle; breaks suddenly, minimal flex
Elongation at Break	2-5%	Very low; limited impact resistance
Thermal Expansion Coef. (CTE)	~70 ppm/K	Moderate; minimal warping
Moisture Absorption	Low (~0.02%)	Dries quickly; can print after brief drying
Cost	$15-25/kg	Cheapest option; wide availability
Storage	Sealed bag with desiccant	Lasts 1+ year if dry
Post-Processing	Easy (sand, glue, paint)	Accepts adhesives and coatings well
Specialty Notes	Bio-based; compostable under proper conditions	Yellows under UV exposure

Print Tips: - Best surface finish of all common materials (smooth, glossy appearance possible) - Use PVA or HIPS support material (water-soluble or heat-removable) - Minimize travel moves to reduce stringing - Print speed 50-80 mm/s (medium speed is safe)

Common Issues & Solutions: - Stringing: Increase retraction distance by 2-3mm; verify nozzle cooldown - Warping: Rare for PLA; if occurs, increase bed temperature or add brim - Layer adhesion: Verify bed is clean and level; PLA likes cool beds but needs contact pressure

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ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

Best For: Mechanical parts, heat-resistant components, durable prototypes, outdoor use Avoid For: Beginners, unheated environments, tight tolerance parts (high warping)

Property	Value	Notes
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)	105-110°C	High; good heat retention above 60°C
Melting Point Range	220-250°C	Broader transition than PLA
Nozzle Temperature	230-250°C	Higher than PLA; start at 240°C
Bed Temperature	80-100°C	CRITICAL—low bed temp = severe warping
Tensile Strength	40-45 MPa	Ductile; bends before breaking
Elongation at Break	5-10%	Better impact resistance than PLA
Thermal Expansion Coef. (CTE)	~75 ppm/K	High; prone to warping during cooling
Moisture Absorption	Low (~0.15%)	Absorbs moisture slowly; pre-dry if stored poorly
Cost	$18-28/kg	More expensive than PLA; less available
Storage	Sealed bag in cool, dry place	Can degrade if exposed to heat/UV
Post-Processing	Moderate (sand, smooth with acetone vapor)	Acetone smoothing enhances appearance
Specialty Notes	Tougher than PLA; superior impact resistance	Strong solvent resistance (good for chemical exposure)

Print Tips: - MUST use heated bed (80-100°C); low bed temp = print failure - Enclosed printer chamber recommended (maintains heat, reduces warping) - Slower print speeds (30-50 mm/s) improve layer adhesion - Use ABS-specific supports (grid type works well)

Common Issues & Solutions: - Warping: Increase bed temp 5°C; add brim; enclose chamber; slow down - Layer adhesion: Lower nozzle slightly; verify bed is level; increase nozzle temp 5-10°C - Stringing: Reduce nozzle temp 5°C; increase retraction; verify cooling is adequate

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PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

Best For: Balanced properties; mechanical parts; ease of use; moderate heat resistance Avoid For: High-temperature applications (>80°C), flexible parts (too stiff)

Property	Value	Notes
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)	75-85°C	Middle ground between PLA and ABS
Melting Point Range	220-250°C	Moderate transition range
Nozzle Temperature	220-240°C	Easy to dial in; forgiving window
Bed Temperature	70-90°C	Hot but less finicky than ABS
Tensile Strength	50-60 MPa	Higher than ABS; excellent strength
Elongation at Break	5-12%	Good impact resistance; slight flex
Thermal Expansion Coef. (CTE)	~80 ppm/K	Moderate warping; less than ABS
Moisture Absorption	Low (~0.04%)	Very dry material; minimal drying needed
Cost	$20-30/kg	Premium to PLA; less than specialty materials
Storage	Sealed bag; not hygroscopic	Very stable; lasts 1+ year easily
Post-Processing	Easy (sand, glue, paint)	Accepts post-processing well
Specialty Notes	Best "all-rounder"; forgiving to print errors	Used in food contact applications

Print Tips: - One of the easiest materials to dial in; ideal for learning - Print speed 50-80 mm/s (medium speed optimal) - Bed adhesion is reliable; painters tape, PEI, or glass work well - Cooling fan should be on but not aggressive (60-70% power)

Common Issues & Solutions: - Stringing: Slightly less prone to stringing than PLA; light retraction (4-6mm) usually sufficient - Layer adhesion: Easy; just ensure level bed and clean surface - Warping: Rare; if occurs, slightly increase bed temp

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Nylon (Polyamide)

Best For: Flexible parts, high-strength components, wear-resistant surfaces, mechanical parts Avoid For: Beginners, indoor environments (odor), unheated printers, tight tolerances

Property	Value	Notes
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)	47°C (unfilled); 80-90°C (glass-filled)	Wide range depending on formulation
Melting Point Range	215-225°C	Complex thermal behavior due to crystallinity
Nozzle Temperature	240-250°C	Similar to ABS; high temperature range
Bed Temperature	70-85°C	Less critical than ABS but still important
Tensile Strength	60-80 MPa	HIGHEST of common materials; very strong
Elongation at Break	15-25%	Highly elastic; excellent flexibility
Thermal Expansion Coef. (CTE)	80-100 ppm/K	Highest CTE; significant shrinkage
Moisture Absorption	HIGH (~0.8% after 24h)	CRITICAL—must be pre-dried
Cost	$35-60/kg	Expensive; specialty suppliers
Storage	Sealed bag with desiccant	Must stay dry; absorbs moisture from air
Post-Processing	Difficult; annealing recommended for strength	Heat-treating improves properties
Specialty Notes	Professional-grade material; superior properties	Requires enclosure for best results

Print Tips: - PRE-DRY FILAMENT at 80°C for 2-4 hours before printing (non-negotiable) - Enclosed printer chamber strongly recommended - Print speed 30-50 mm/s (slower for quality) - Bed adhesion requires high surface roughness (sand or use specialty adhesive)

Common Issues & Solutions: - Under-extrusion: Often due to moisture; re-dry filament - Layer adhesion: Major issue; ensure bed is very clean and warm - Strength not matching expectations: Part must be annealed (post-heat treated) to develop full strength - Warping: Minimize cooling rate; maintain 75°C+ bed throughout print

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TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane - Flexible)

Best For: Flexible parts, cushioning, sealing, gaskets, phone cases, wearables Avoid For: Rigid parts, high-temperature applications, parts requiring fine detail

Property	Value	Notes
Glass Transition Temperature (Tg)	Varies by durometer; typically -20 to +40°C	Very soft at room temperature
Melting Point Range	190-210°C	Low; easy to print
Nozzle Temperature	210-230°C	Keep temperature controlled (easy to over-heat)
Bed Temperature	20-60°C	Room temperature or warm for better adhesion
Tensile Strength	20-30 MPa	Low; designed for elasticity not strength
Elongation at Break	100%+	Designed to stretch; extreme flexibility
Thermal Expansion Coef. (CTE)	Variable	Elastic behavior dominates over thermal expansion
Moisture Absorption	Low	Dry storage not critical
Cost	$40-80/kg	Premium material; specialized suppliers
Storage	Normal storage; not hygroscopic	Lasts 1+ year in sealed bag
Post-Processing	Limited; annealing not applicable	Accept as-printed or sand lightly
Specialty Notes	Rubberlike properties; extreme flexibility	Requires specialized nozzles (often larger bore)

Print Tips: - Very slow print speeds (10-30 mm/s) improve layer fusion - Thick nozzles (0.6mm or larger) recommended to prevent jamming - Cooling fan at minimum or off (material needs to fuse well between layers) - Bed adhesion adequate but use brim for large parts

Common Issues & Solutions: - Layer adhesion: Slow down more; increase bed temp; ensure good nozzle pressure - Under-extrusion: Common due to material compressibility; increase extrusion multiplier 5-10% - Stringing: Unavoidable with flexible material; trim supports carefully

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Material Comparison at a Glance

                    PLA     PETG    ABS     Nylon   TPU
Ease to Print        ★★★★★  ★★★★★  ★★★☆☆  ★★☆☆☆  ★★☆☆☆
Heat Resistance      ★☆☆☆☆  ★★★☆☆  ★★★★☆  ★★★★☆  ★★☆☆☆
Strength             ★★★☆☆  ★★★★☆  ★★★☆☆  ★★★★★  ★☆☆☆☆
Flexibility          ★☆☆☆☆  ★☆☆☆☆  ★★☆☆☆  ★★★☆☆  ★★★★★
Chemical Resistance  ★★☆☆☆  ★★★☆☆  ★★★★☆  ★★★★★  ★★★☆☆
Cost                 ★★★★★  ★★★★☆  ★★★☆☆  ★★☆☆☆  ★☆☆☆☆
Post-Processing      ★★★★☆  ★★★★☆  ★★★★☆  ★★☆☆☆  ★★☆☆☆

Nozzle & Bed Temperature Quick Reference

Material    Min Nozzle  Max Nozzle  Min Bed  Max Bed  Print Speed Range
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PLA         195°C      215°C       20°C     60°C     50-100 mm/s
PETG        215°C      245°C       70°C     90°C     50-80 mm/s
ABS         230°C      250°C       80°C    100°C     30-60 mm/s
Nylon       240°C      250°C       70°C     85°C     30-50 mm/s
TPU         210°C      230°C       20°C     60°C     10-30 mm/s

Storage Guidelines

Material	Storage Temp	Humidity	Container	Shelf Life
PLA	Room temp (20-25°C)	<50% (dry box recommended)	Sealed bag + desiccant	6-12 months
PETG	Room temp	<50%	Sealed bag + desiccant	12+ months
ABS	Cool, dark (~18-22°C)	<50%	Sealed bag + desiccant	12+ months
Nylon	Cool, dark	<30% (critical!)	Vacuum seal + desiccant	12 months (if dry)
TPU	Room temp	<50%	Sealed bag	12+ months

Key Rule: Moisture is the enemy. All materials last longer when stored dry.

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Material Selection Flowchart

START: What is your part's primary requirement?

  ├─→ VISUAL PROTOTYPE / LOW COST?
  │   └─→ Use PLA (easiest, cheapest)
  │
  ├─→ MECHANICAL PART / STRENGTH?
  │   ├─→ Need flexibility? → TPU or Nylon
  │   ├─→ Need heat resistance? → ABS or Nylon
  │   └─→ Balanced properties? → PETG
  │
  ├─→ OUTDOOR / UV RESISTANT?
  │   ├─→ ABS or Nylon (PLA yellows/degrades)
  │
  ├─→ BEGINNER / LEARNING?
  │   └─→ PLA or PETG (easiest to dial in)
  │
  └─→ COST-SENSITIVE?
      └─→ PLA (lowest cost, acceptable properties for many applications)

END: Material selected. Check temperature profile above.

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Emergency Material Substitution Guide

What if your preferred material isn't available?

Need	First Choice	Acceptable Substitute	Notes
Prototype, visual	PLA	PETG	PETG slightly less brittle
Prototype, fast	PLA	ABS	ABS slower but more durable
Mechanical part	PETG or Nylon	ABS	ABS good fallback for strength
Flexible part	TPU	Nylon	Nylon less flexible but acceptable
Heat-resistant	Nylon	ABS	ABS easier to print, lower heat rating
Beginner-friendly	PLA	PETG	PETG forgiving to print errors

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Filament Health Check

How to evaluate if stored filament is still usable:

1. Visual Inspection:
2. Color change? (Yellowing = old, degradation; acceptable if print quality OK)
3. Visible cracks? (Brittle = moisture or age; may be compromised)

4. White residue? (Moisture-induced polymer degradation; replace)

5. Tactile Test:

6. Brittleness: Bend a small piece; if it snaps cleanly, material OK (or very dry). If it bends without snapping, may be degraded.

7. Surface feel: Rough/chalky = potential contamination or degradation

8. Print Test:

9. Print small test cube
10. If print is weak, brittle, or shows under-extrusion, material is suspect

11. If print is strong and normal, material is still good

12. Age Rule:

13. PLA/PETG: <1 year old in sealed dry storage = fine
14. ABS/Nylon: <1 year if properly sealed with desiccant = fine
15. If opened or stored improperly: consider suspect after 6 months

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Last Updated: 2026-03-18 Print this reference sheet and keep at each printer station