Strongest 3D Printing Materials: Impact Resistant Filaments (2024)

If you need to 3D print a part or object that has to withstand high impact or repetitive use, you’ll have to turn to some of the strongest 3D printing materials.

What makes a 3D printing filament strong? In this article, strength refers to materials that are able to withstand high impact and repeated use, and are durable. Some filaments have higher impact resistance, some better fatigue resistance or durability, and some have a combination of all three factors.

In this article, we’re reviewing 7 of the strongest 3D printing materials and how to choose between them for your next print.

7 Strongest 3D Printing Materials

The strongest 3D printing filaments are:

  • ABS
  • TPU
  • PET-G
  • PA
  • PAHT CF15
  • PP
  • PP GF30.

The strength of these filaments vary, as some are more impact resistant, while others are structurally strong or even fatigue resistant. Let’s dive into the unique characteristics of each filament.

1. ABS

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) is a stiff and impact-resistant thermoplastic material. It is a popular material that is mostly used for engineering purposes and technical prints. Compared to many other fiber filaments ABS is quite cost-effective, making it a great choice if you’re on a budget yet still need high strength. Along with being durable against impact and fatigue, ABS is also heat resistant and water-resistant.

  • When To Choose ABS:

ABS is the perfect 3D printing material to use if your print will be used for a moving part, high mechanical stress, or for high-stress functionality. ABS is also a good option if your print will be an end-use product, as it has an attractive surface finish.

2. TPU

TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane) is most well known for its flexibility, which is what makes this 3D printing material so strong. Along with being flexible, TPU is also highly durable, with strong resistance to impact, wear and tear, chemicals, and abrasion. TPU is an ideal 3D printing material to use for shock absorption.

  • When to Choose TPU:

With the ability to extend up to 4.5 times its original size without breaking, TPU is your go-to choice for any prints that require high levels of flexibility and strength. TPU is commonly used to print parts like wheels, springs, shock absorbers, and other flexible objects.

3. PET-G

3D printing beginners should turn to PET-G (Polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified) when looking for a 3D printing material that is both strong and easy to print. PET-G is easier to print than ABS, yet stronger and more technical than PLA. PET-G is impact-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and also features some flexibility.

  • When to Choose PET-G:

Featuring a shiny finish and good levels of strength, PET-G is a great option for end-use parts. It is commonly used to print functional prototypes, mild-stress parts, and protective cases.

4. PA

One of the strongest 3D printing materials in terms of durability and heat resistance is PA (Polyamide). This semicrystalline plastic is used for prints that will undergo heavy-duty applications. PA has high strength, excellent impact resistance, and is fatigue-resistant, making it ideal for moving parts.

  • When To Choose PA:

PA is commonly used to create washers, gears, jigs, sliding parts, and objects that undergo high fatigue. As one of the strongest 3D printing materials, it is resistant to abrasion, impact, and heat. When compared to ABS, PA has better impact strength and flexibility.

5. PAHT CF15

Another commonly used 3D printing material in the automotive industry is PAHT CF15 (High-Temperature Polyamide carbon fiber reinforced.) This filament packs a punch and it is the strongest 3D printing material on our list. PAHT CF15 is characterized by high levels of strength, heat resistance, stiffness, and impact resistance.

  • When to Choose PAHT CF15:

Although it can be tempting to want to instantly use the strongest material you can find, this isn’t always the right choice. This strong 3D printing filament is best suited for the most demanding objects or parts. Reach for it when you need a material that needs to replace metal, or parts that will undergo extreme temperatures and high-stress environments.

6. PP

PP (Polypropylene) is a lightweight and flexible material, but don’t let that fool you. In fact, PP is a very durable 3D printing material with great impact and fatigue resistance. PP is most well known for its heavy-duty resistance to most chemicals, including alkali, acids, and organic solvents.

  • When to Choose PP:

While its lightweight nature may not make it as strong as other filaments on this list, its durability and resistance to impact while also maintaining an airy quality still make it a good option for parts that will undergo repetitive applications, such as packaging, pipes, and joints.

7. PP GF30

PP GF30 (polypropylene 30% glass fiber) is like PP, but with a little extra boost. The glass fiber in PP GF30 allows this 3D printing material to have high levels of strength and rigidity while maintaining its lightness and high chemical resistance. This is one of the strongest 3D printing materials, and it is frequently used in the automotive and aerospace industries.

  • When to Choose PP GF30:

Along with being lightweight, durable, and stiff, one of PP GF30’s most impressive qualities is its high resistance to hostile environments, including chemicals and weather conditions. If your 3D print will be placed outside or need to withstand harsh temperatures while maintaining structural strength, then PP GF30 will be a great choice.

Conclusion

The strongest 3D printer filament comes in all shapes, sizes, and definitions of strength. Whether you’re looking for durability, impact resistance, or fatigue resistance, this list is sure to lead you in the right direction.

Strongest 3D Printing Materials: Impact Resistant Filaments (2)

Strongest 3D Printing Materials: Impact Resistant Filaments (2024)

FAQs

What is the strongest filament for 3D printing? ›

At the low-cost consumer level, the strongest 3D printer filaments in terms of tensile strength include polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified (PETG), and polylactic acid (PLA). Weak materials include thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

What filament has the highest impact resistance? ›

Polycarbonate: PC is a tough and durable filament that can withstand high temperatures. It offers excellent impact resistance, among other high-level performance properties.

Is PETG stronger than PLA? ›

Strength. In terms of strength, both PLA and PETG offer good performance, but there are some key differences. PLA has a slightly higher tensile strength than PETG. However, it is more brittle than PETG, making it less resistant to impact or sudden forces.

Is PETG stronger than ABS? ›

PETG vs ABS: Strength and Durability

In terms of strength, PETG has a stronger tensile strength in comparison to ABS.

Is nylon 12 stronger than ABS? ›

Nylon is tougher and more resistant to chemicals than ABS and PLA, but its low strength and stiffness keep it from being widely used in the manufacturing industry. As a result, advancements in 3D printing materials has introduced nylon-fiber mixtures, opening the door to accessible industrial 3D printing.

What material is stronger than PLA? ›

PETG filament

It has a strong impact and abrasion resistance and can sustain higher temperatures compared to PLA. Because of its excellent properties and relatively low price, PETG is commonly used in 3D printing. It is a good engineering-grade material that can be used in place of ABS.

What materials are best for impact resistance? ›

Plastic materials are often selected for applications that require toughness and impact resistance. Certain plastics such as ABS, polycarbonate, PPSU, and UHMW have outstanding toughness. Plastics are frequently used for industrial, construction, and military applications when durability is critical.

How to make 3D prints more impact resistant? ›

Make 3D Prints Stronger. More Durability, Same Great Finish
  1. Use stronger materials. ...
  2. Increase the infill density. ...
  3. Optimise the infill pattern. ...
  4. Add fillets and chamfers to thin parts. ...
  5. Use the strongest part orientation. ...
  6. Increase the wall thickness. ...
  7. Print with thinner layers. ...
  8. Find out more.
Jul 3, 2023

Is PETG impact resistant? ›

PETG has applications in a range of industries due to being resistant to heat, impact and solvents.

What are the downsides of PETG? ›

PETG Filament Cons
  • – Bed adhesion – compared to PLA generally harder to get it right from the beginning.
  • – Stringing and oozing – may be caused by excessive retraction which will compromise the end result.
  • – Bridging – not the best choice for bridging compared to ABS.
Apr 15, 2020

Why is PETG so hard to print with? ›

PETG retraction parameters varied significantly from those for other filaments. This is because PETG prints at a relatively high temperature, making it difficult to stop and control the material flow.

Is PLA+ stronger than PLA? ›

PLA is brittle and weak. PLA+ is stronger, more flexible, and more ductile. The use of additional fillers/additives makes PLA+ have greater heat resistance than standard PLA. PLA+ materials are used in high-temperature environments—so long as the temperature doesn't exceed its glass-transition temperature of 130 °F.

Will PETG melt in the sun? ›

PETG has a melting point of 260°C making it a high heat resistance filament. Due to this property, you can keep your printed parts out in the sun. PLA is not the filament you should use to print 3D models with outdoor applications since its melting point range from 160°C to 180°C.

What is stronger, ASA or PETG? ›

ASA has a slightly higher flexural modulus and melting temperature than PETG but a lower density and tensile strength. ASA also has better weather resistance than PETG but worse layer adhesion.

Is TPU stronger than PETG? ›

While PETG is more flexible than PLA, it's still not as flexible or scratch-resistant as TPU. PETG will be more rigid than even the least flexible TPU filaments. TPU is a great choice for printing applications where shock resistance and elasticity are a must, such as wearable devices and prosthetics.

Which filament is stronger ABS or PLA? ›

PLA is known for its strong tensile strength, superior to that of ABS. PLA prints are characterized by a good surface finish and the filament is available in a wide range of colors. Derived from plants, PLA is a renewable and biodegradable thermoplastic. The material should be composted at industrial facilities.

Is PLA+ better than PLA? ›

PLA+ eliminates some of the negative characteristics of standard PLA. It has improved strength, ductility, and flexibility compared to PLA. This makes PLA+ great for parts requiring mechanical strength in load-bearing applications. PLA+ can tolerate higher temperatures than standard PLA.

Is resin stronger than PLA? ›

Yes, resin prints have stronger mechanical properties than PLA prints, but that doesn't mean they are rendered useless. PLA is used in a lot of 3D printing applications ranging from replacement parts, tooling accessories and architectural models.

Is carbon fiber filament stronger? ›

Carbon fiber has one of the highest strength-to-weight ratios out there, making it very valuable for creating lightweight, strong parts. The fibers themselves are made up of carbon atoms whose crystal structure is aligned into strands, making the strands incredibly strong in tension.

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