Material
Mechanical properties
(For reference only)
PLA
Polylactic Acid is a biodegradable, bio-based thermoplastic made from renewable resources like corn starch or sugarcane. It’s easy to process, low-odor, and produces good surface finish.
High stiffness and brittle
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.24 g/cm^3
50 – 70 MPa
2.5 – 3.5 GPa
2 – 10 %
Shore D 75 – 85
Low (~0.2 – 0.5 %)
PETG
Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol is a tough, durable thermoplastic known for good layer adhesion, chemical resistance, and low warping. It’s easier to print than ABS, produces strong functional parts with a slightly flexible feel, and is commonly used for mechanical components and protective housings.
Medium high stiffness
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.27 g/cm^3
45 – 60 MPa
1.8 – 2.4 GPa
15 – 35 %
Shore D 70 – 80
Low (~0.3 – 0.8 %)
PETG-CF
Carbon Fiber Reinforced PETG is PETG blended with chopped carbon fiber to increase stiffness and dimensional stability. It prints with less warping and better rigidity than standard PETG, but it is more brittle and abrasive to nozzles, making it better suited for stiff structural parts rather than impact-loaded parts.
Low stiffness, very strong
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.3 – 1.4 g/cm^3
55 – 75 MPa
4 – 7 GPa
2 – 8 %
Shore D 80 – 90
Very Low (~0.1 – 0.4 %)
TPU 95A
Thermoplastic Polyurethane, Shore 95A is a flexible, rubber-like filament designed for parts that need bending, impact absorption, and high durability. It has excellent abrasion resistance and won’t crack easily, but it is much less stiff than rigid plastics and can be harder to print due to its softness.
Low stiffness, high toughness
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.2 – 1.5 g/cm^3
22 – 45 MPa
0.01 – 0.05 GPa
300 – 600 %
Shore A 95
Low (~0.2 – 0.6 %)
ABS
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene is a tough, impact-resistant thermoplastic widely used in consumer products and engineering parts. It handles heat better than PLA and is suitable for durable functional prints, but it tends to warp and releases noticeable odor, so it usually prints best with an enclosure and good ventilation.
Medium toughness
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.04 g/cm^3
35 – 50 MPa
1.5 – 2.2 GPa
10 – 30 %
Shore D 65 – 75
High (~0.7 – 1.5 %)
ASA
Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate is similar to ABS but designed for better outdoor performance with improved UV and weather resistance. It maintains strength and toughness in real-world environments and is commonly used for exterior parts, though it still benefits from controlled printing conditions to reduce warping.
Medium toughness, outdoor stable
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.05 – 1.08 g/cm^3
35 – 55 MPa
1.6 – 2.4 GPa
10 – 25 %
Shore D 70 – 80
Medium high (~0.5 – 1.2 %)
PA (PA6/PA66/PA12)
Nylon is a strong, tough engineering plastic known for high wear resistance and excellent impact performance. It’s ideal for gears, brackets, and load-bearing parts, but it can absorb moisture, creep under constant load, and often requires careful drying and higher-temperature printing.
High toughness, medium high strength
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.00 – 1.16 g/cm^3
35 – 90 MPa
0.8 – 2.8 GPa
20 – 200 %
Shore D 65 – 85
High (~0.8 – 2.5 %)
PA-CF (PA6-CF/PA66-CF/PA12-CF)
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Nylon is nylon reinforced with carbon fiber for much higher stiffness, strength, and dimensional stability. It produces rigid, professional-grade structural parts with reduced warping compared to regular nylon, but it becomes less ductile and more prone to brittle fracture, and it requires hardened printing hardware due to abrasion.
Very high stiffness and strength, lower toughness
Density
Ultimate tensile strength
Young’s modulus
Elongation at break
Hardness
Shrinkage rate
1.15 – 1.40 g/cm^3
60 – 120 MPa
4 – 12 GPa
1.5 – 8 %
Shore D 75 – 90
Medium high (~0.3 – 1.0 %)