3D Printing Materials: Plastics, Metals, and Beyond.
The approach if 3D printing has changes the game and turned tables in the world of manufacture and business by enabling the creation of complex parts and prototypes with the help of the use of various materials. To achieve this, the need to understand the types, and properties of the materials used in the process of orienting is mandatory. This is because the type of the material will define the quality if the end result of the product, which will be used for various specific needs. This article sheds light on the different and distinctive categories of materials that are used in 3D printing. These distinctive materials include plastics, metals and composites and their properties, applications, and factors are to be considered in the discussion below.
3D Printing Materials
The technology of 3D printing or additive manufacturing involves producing objects in three dimensions from a design file. Unlike traditional manufacturing methods that cut away material, 3D printing builds objects layer by layer. In this process, material is added only where it is needed. This innovative approach provides design freedom to create shapes, customized components and quick prototypes, with ease.
Plastics
Plastics are considered to be the most commonly used materials in the process of 3D printing, given that they are cheap, easily available and can also be recycled from waste products. They are versatile, easy to use, and is also cost-effective. Mentioned below are some of the common types of plastics used.
a) PLA ( Polylactic Acid)
∙ Properties: They are biodegradable, have low shrinkage properties, and is easy to print.
∙ Application: They are used for prototyping, educational models and also decorative items.
∙ Consideration: They have a limited heat resistance, and are not very suitable for functional parts exposed to certain temperatures.
b) ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
∙ Properties: ABS are strong and impact-resistant. They are moderate to heat resistance.
∙ Application: They are used for functional prototypes, automotive components and for the manufacture of toys.
∙ Consideration: They can wrap during the printing process and also requires a heated bed.
c) PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)
∙ Properties: Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol or PETG are strong, flexible, and moisture-resistant.
∙ Application: They are used int he manufacture of mechanical parts, containers and outdoor applications.
∙ Consideration: Comparing to PLA, this type of material are more challenging to handle , but it does offer a more durable result.
Metals
The use of metals in 3D printing is required when there is a need to produce a high strength, durable and resistance to extreme conditions product. Some of the commonly used type of metals for 3D printing are as below:
a) Stainless Steal
∙ Properties: The name of the material itself says it out that it offers a corrosion-resistant property, and hence follows the fact that they are strong and durable.
∙ Application: They are most commonly used in the aerospace components, medical devices and tooling.
∙ Consideration: It requires a specialized printer to print products using this material, which can often turn out to be very expensive compared to plastics.
b) Titanium
∙ Properties: Titanium are light weight, have high strength-to-weight ratio, and is an excellent biocompatibility.
∙ Application: These type of materials are also used in aerospace, medical implants, and high-performance parts.
∙ Consideration: They can prove to be of high-coat and complex process of printing.
c) Aluminum
∙ Properties: They are light-weight, have good thermal and electrical conductivity.
∙ Application: They are also used and is best suitable in aerospace, automotive parts and also consumer electronics.
∙ Consideration: They indeed are cost-effective, but needs post-processing.
Composites:
Composite materials are the combination of plastics and reinforcing agents like carbon fiber or glass fiber for the purpose of enhancing their mechanical properties.
a) Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymers
∙ Properties: They have high-strength, are light weight, and also provides excellent rigidity.
∙ Application: They can be used in aerospace components, automotive parts and sporting goods.
∙ Consideration: They are more expensive than standard plastics, and hence require careful handling during the entire process of printing.
b) Nylon Composites
∙ Properties: Nylons are tough, impact-resistant and also flexible
∙ Application: They can be used in functional prototypes, industrial tooling and also in the manufacture of easy-to-use parts.
∙ Consideration: It may require post-processing for a smooth surface finish.
Material Selection Key Consideration.
1.) Application Requirements
∙ Plastics: Plastics are best suitable for prototyping, low-stress application and decorative items. PLA is best suitable for the manufacture of educational models, whereas ABS is preferred for its durable prototype.
∙ Metal: These materials are necessary for high-stress applications where there is a high temperature, pressure and durability. Due to such properties, they are used in aerospace and medical devices.
∙ Composites: These type of material is ideal for applications requiring a balance of both strength and weight, hence making them suitable for the application in the automotive parts and sporting equipment.
2.) Mechanical Properties
∙ Plastics: Plastics have a lower tensile strength compare to other metals, but on the other hand, options like the use of nylon can absorb impacts well.
∙ Metal: Metals provide a superior or an excellent strength and durability, hence making the best suitable for load bearing parts.
∙ Composites: Composites offer excellent strength-to-weight ratio making them beneficial in many industries, Options like carbon fiber are specifically renowned for its benefits and light-weight property in industries where minimizing weight is considered critical.
3.) Environmental Considerations
∙ Plastics: Options like PLA are indeed biodegradable, which means they are also environmental friendly, hence making them a go-to option for eco-friendly projects.
∙ Metal: Metals are generally durable and recyclable but when it comes to the time of extraction and processing, it can prove to have a higher impact of risk in the environment.
∙ Composites: Composites do offer high-performance products, but the impact it makes on the environment depends on the kind or the type of plastic used and its recyclability.
4.) Cost and Accessibility
∙ Plastics: Plastics are the most cost-effective option when it comes to small-scale and hobbyist projects.
∙ Metal: The fact that metals require a higher material cost and also printing complexities makes them a less opted option, and hence limiting their use to specialized industries.
∙ Composites: As compared to plastics, composites are more expensive, but om the other hand it has the potential to provide superior performance for specific applications.
5.) Ease of Printing
∙ Plastics: Plastics are user-friendly, and is easy to print, which is why materials like PLA are an ideal option for beginners.
∙ Metal: Metals require specialized equipment and there are printing complexities, hence they are less accessible to casual users.
∙ Composites: Using composites for printing can be quite challenging due to its unique properties. This makes for them to need careful calibration and handling.
By carefully evaluating the requirements of a project, such as the need of flexibility, strength, resistance to heat and conditions, one can analyze and choose as to which material is best suitable for their need.
