New-aged 3D printers have engraved their roots almost all across the world- inside houses and more prominently in the industries. Similarly, you get to see a lot of 3D printer stores too, both online and offline, where you could choose the best 3D printers as per their specifications and your needs.

But the trouble does not end here. 3D printers are not as simple as they sound. And one of the major troubles that people face (apart from choosing a good 3D printer) is choosing the appropriate printing materials.

When you look for them on the internet, you find hoards of distinct kinds of lists. The elements in the lists range from various plastics to ceramics and even common and precious metals etc. And as one 3D printing material differs a lot from the other, so do their properties.

Given below is a detailed explanation for the properties of some of the most common 3D printing materials, which would help you choose the best one for your purpose:

Nylon: 

A durable and strong synthetic polymer- Nylon possesses a semi-transparent silky finish which is also called white plastic. This 3D printing material is extremely cheap and finds immense applications in formulating household items.  

Apart from this, nylon is also flexible and could be painted in various colors using acid-based dye. With nylon, a 3D printing kit could prepare moving parts which is ideal for hobbyists and home uses etc. 

Features Of Nylon: 

• Highly durable, strong and flexible

• Offers smooth prints

• Could be easily dyed by soaking

• Chemical and UV resistant

ABS: 

ABS is a common petroleum-based polymer that stands for Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene. It is resistant to extreme temperatures and is found to be a good one for real-world components. It’s again a cheap 3D printing material and is commonly used for desktop 3D printing. 

Features of ABS: 

• It is available in hoards of colors

• Has good mechanical strength

• Inexpensive

• Extensive lifespan

• Not suitable for food-based printing

Acrylics and Resins: 

Acrylics are a collective term for a wide range of plastic products and with varying functions. The product is often used as an alternative to glass and is extremely durable. 

Similarly, resins are also a form of cheap 3D printer materials that are non-toxic and have a wide range of applications. 

Features of Acrylics/Resins: 

• Occur in a wide range of flexibility and strength

• Resistant to chemicals

• Non-toxic

• Useful for UV and LED-based systems

• Less shrinkage

Paper: 

Paper has been widely used as a 3D printing material, which is inexpensive and easily moldable. Using a cheap desktop 3D printer, you could trim and glue together layers of paper and create the desired shapes. Apart from this, you could even add colors to the design and create them all according to you.  

Features of Paper: 

• Extremely inexpensive

• Could be molded to any shape and size

• Colorful models could be obtained

• Relatively simpler and speedy

Ceramics: 

Ceramics is also a commonly used material that could be 3D printed extremely rigid or delicate. Using this as the base material, the structure is first printed according to a design and then the surface is glazed with a finishing material. 

Features of Ceramics: 

• Rigid and strong

• Prominently prepared white, but could be glazed to other colors

• Thickness could range a great deal

• Cheap 3D printing material

Metals and Alloys: 

Talking of metals, you could choose a wide variety of 3D printing materials such as: 

• Platinum

• Gold

• Silver

• Copper

• Aluminum

• Titanium

• Cobalt

• Brass

• Chromium etc.

These metals could be expensive and very expensive, based on what you choose as a 3D printing material. Plus, these are water and chemical resistant, could be formulated in various shapes and have a smooth finish. 

Similar to metals, many alloys such as steel and bronze etc. could also be used as 3D printing materials. 

Features Of Metals And Alloys: 

• Very strong and durable

• Usually occur in their natural colors

• Could be expensive, based on what you choose

• Require special 3D printing technology

• Complex designs, moving parts etc. could be made easily

Apart from all these, there are various other 3D printing materials available such as: 

• Alumide

• PLA (Polylactic Acid)

• ULTEM

• Polypropylene (PP)

• Polycarbonate (PC)

• PEEK

• Acetal

• PVA (Polyvinyl Alcohol)

• Food materials such as chocolate etc.

• Concrete and yarn

• Sintered powdered metal

And as all these materials possess common or diverse properties, choosing a suitable one would readily rest on the 3D printing needs of a person or organization. Choose the materials well, so that you derive the anticipated products as per your resources and desires.