3D Printing Materials: What are 3D Printed Products Really Made From?

The list of what we can 3D print and the materials we can print with is continuously growing. With the technology becoming more commercially viable, the industry is going from strength to strength. A 2020 study found that the worldwide market for 3D printing products was valued at around 12.6 billion USD and is expected to grow 17% by 2023.

So, what’s 3D printing really made of? The most common 3D printing materials are plastic, metal, Graphite and Graphene, Carbon Fibre and newer materials, such as bio-based resins, powders, nitinol and paper. Let’s find out more…

Plastic 3D Printing Materials

Plastic is the most common material used in 3D printing. FDM printers are regularly used for the making of plastic products, they use thermoplastic filaments to melt and mould layer by layer into shape. The different types of plastics used in 3D printing include:

• Polylactic Acid (PLA)
• Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
• Polycarbonate (PC)

Comparatively to other materials used in 3D printing, plastic is a more affordable option. It also provides flexibility, firmness, smoothness and has a range of colour options. PLA is the most popular of plastics for printing applications, its low melting point makes it easy to use at home. However, ABS is better suited for applications that require a stronger material, like car components or appliances. 

Other applications for plastics in 3D printing include:

• Medical applications 
• Engineering functional parts
• Architectural and styling models
• Casting patterns
• Automotive components
• Electrical parts
• Jewellery 
• Decorative items 
• Fasteners 

Metal 3D Printing Materials - Can You 3D Print Metal?

Metal is the second most popular material in 3D printing. The process it’s used in is called direct metal laser sintering, or DMLS. 3D metal printing requires spherical metal powders. Metal 3D printing is opening doors for manufacturing companies with speeds and volumes that have otherwise been impossible. The metals currently used within the DMLS technique include:

• Stainless Steel
• Bronze
• Gold
• Aluminium
• Titanium
• Nickel

Unlike plastics used in 3D printing, metals can be used to make both a finished industrial product and a prototype. The use of these metals in printing is laying out a very exciting future for us, the aerospace industry is already seeing the results. In 2016, GE Aviation started printing fuel nozzles for its LEAP jet engine, in 2021 they printed their 100,000th nozzle! Other applications for 3D printed metals are:

• Ready-to-install parts
• Medical devices 
• Printing coins
• Utensils
• Cookware 
• Jewellery 
• Aerospace components 

Graphite and Graphene in 3D Printing

Chosen for its strength and conductivity, Graphene is a popular choice for 3D printing. As a material, Graphene conducts electricity better than other conductors available on the market, as well as being strong, lighter and easier to insulate. Described as a ‘revolutionary material’ in 3D printing.

Carbon Fibre

Composite materials, such as Carbon Fibre are used in 3D printing as a topcoat over the plastic to strengthen. This composite could become more popular than more traditional materials as it’s less intensive, faster and more convenient. Applications for Carbon Fibre in 3D printing include:

• Bearings
• Pistol parts
• Electrical cable installation 

For more information on 3D printing materials, please contact our technical team via technical@goodfellow.com. For anything else, please contact info@goodfellow.com. Our team of experts can help find the right material for your project whether it’s for a bespoke need or a bulk application.