PLA, ABS, and Nylon are popular FDM 3d printing materials available in filaments form. PLA and ABS FDM 3D printing materials are more popular among engineers and hobbyists, whereas nylon has specialized applications such as making gears.
This article covers the difference between PLA vs ABS vs Nylon materials. It will help you in the selection of the best FDM 3D printing material for your application. If you are looking for a new 3D Printer. Don’t miss this article on the best budget affordable 3D Printers.
PLA vs ABS vs Nylon
What is the Difference Between PLA, ABS and Nylon
Here are more details about the difference between the properties of PLA vs ABS vs Nylon materials. It will help you in understanding how material properties have an impact on 3D printing material selection.
What is ABS, PLA and Nylon?
ABS is a thermoplastic material. Engineering grade ABS is extensively used to manufacture injection molded plastic parts. Therefore ABS is the preferred option for 3D print parts for engineering applications.
PLA (Polylactic Acid) is also a thermoplastic material made from corn starch. It has characteristics similar to polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), or polystyrene (PS). PLA is a biodegradable plastic. Therefore it is recommended for short lifespan plastic applications such as water bottles.
Nylon(PA) is a hard thermoset plastic with self-lubricating properties. PA is also an engineering plastic and is used to manufacture gears. One of the disadvantages of nylon is it absorbs water.
Material Strength
- ABS has good Ductility and Flexural strength. Therefore it is a preferred material over PLA or Nylon for engineering applications. Therefore engineers use ABS material for rapid prototyping.
- PLA is a heat-sensitive material and degrades in the outside environment. Therefore PLA is used by hobbyists.
- Nylon has good chemical resistance and toughness. Therefore engineers prefer nylon for tough parts such as gears.
Chemical Resistance
- PLA and ABS have comparatively low chemical resistance than nylon.
- PLA is a biodegradable material, whereas ABS and Nylon are recyclable non-biodegradable materials.
Impact of Moisture
- PLA material degrades very fast in the presence of moisture.
- Nylon absorbs moisture.
- ABS performs well in the presence of moisture.
Ease of 3D Printing
- PLA material is very easy to 3D print because of its low melting temperature.
- Nylon has a high melting temperature (250ºC). Therefore 3D printing nylon material is always a challenging task.
Selection of FDM 3D Printing Material
Following are the examples of the selection of FDM 3D printing material for the required application.
Example-1: For the 3D printing of moving components such as gears, and linkages, engineers prefer nylon material because it has good self-lubrication properties.
Example-2: PLA material is easy to 3D print and biodegradable. Therefore it has applications in manufacturing indoor and complex parts such as school projects or toys.
Example-3: ABS 3D printing material is recommended for engineering components because its properties are similar to engineering-grade ABS. But PLA material is recommended to manufacture good finish parts.
To sum up, ABS is a good option for engineering applications, PLA material is for hobbyists, and Nylon for manufacturing gears, screws, etc.
We will keep updating PLA vs ABS vs Nylon. Add your comments, suggestions, or questions on the difference between PLA vs ABS vs Nylon. Don’t miss this article on the difference between laser marking engraving and etching.
Add a Comment