What is the strongest material for 3D printing? A complete guide to material strength

The terms strength and toughness are often confused. Glass (soda-lime glass, the most common type of glass) is a strong material. It has almost the same flexural strength as aluminum when tempered, but is lighter and just as rigid. Nevertheless, we do not build airplanes out of glass; on the contrary, the term glass is often used as a synonym for fragility. The reason for this is toughness: glass, like most ceramic materials, is not tough. Glass is about 40 times less tough than aluminum, and this lack of toughness makes it useless for many technical applications, as it cannot redistribute internal stresses or withstand shocks and dynamic loads.

In 3D printing, a similar phenomenon occurs with two of the most popular filaments. Sometimes you hear that “ABS is stronger than PLA”, but this is not true. PLA is significantly stronger and stiffer than ABS (about one and a half times, depending on the filament). ABS is tougher, and it is precisely this toughness that makes it a sought-after technical material.

But what is the strongest 3D printing material? What is the toughest material? In 3D printing, determining the strength or toughness of 3D printed parts depends heavily on the chosen printing technology and material, as each offers a different balance between tensile and impact strength.

Based on the material portfolio of our partner Formlabs, this guide compares the mechanical properties of the most common materials, including PLA, ABS, nylon, carbon fiber composites, stereolithography plastics (SLA) and selective laser sintering (SLS) powders, as well as the most common 3D printing technologies, fused deposition modeling (FDM), SLA and SLS, and other factors that influence material strength.

Understanding materials: The definition of strength in 3D printing

Strength is important when printing functional parts such as tools, fixtures, brackets or other parts that have to withstand real loads. However, the term strength can have very different definitions. When a part is described as “strong”, this can mean that it can withstand a high load, is resistant to impact and breakage or can withstand heat and other environmental influences.

In materials science, the term strength has a narrower definition: it is the maximum load that a part can withstand without breaking. The load is defined as the force exerted divided by the cross-sectional area of the part to allow for differences in geometry. Another important property in connection with the load behavior of a material is its stiffness. Stiffness is the amount of strain or deformation caused by a given unit load. Strength and stiffness can be measured by pulling (tensile strength) or bending (flexural strength). Strength and stiffness are the most relevant properties for a load case where a component has to carry a heavy static load, such as a bracket. Not all loads are static, and there are other properties that characterize material performance under more dynamic load cases, such as impact.

When we talk about the toughness of materials, we are describing the ability of a material to absorb energy and deform plastically without breaking. There are various ways to measure toughness. One way is to measure the energy absorbed by a hammer swinging from a pendulum or a falling weight. This is called impact strength. These measurements have units of energy (often J, J/m or J/m2), as opposed to strength, which is measured in force per area (usually in pascals or PSI). Izod, Charpy and Gardner are three popular types of impact tests. Toughness can also be characterized in other ways, such as measuring the energy required to cause a crack to propagate. Toughness is important when you need a part to withstand extreme dynamic loads, such as a protective housing.

Before we compare 3D printing materials, it is important to clarify what the mechanical properties used to measure strength mean. In 3D printing, strength is often shorthand for a combination of the following mechanical properties: Tensile strength, impact strength, flexural strength, heat deflection temperature (HDT) and stiffness.

Tensile strength (breaking strength)

Tensile strength measures the resistance of a material to failure under tension. It is the maximum load a material can withstand while being stretched or pulled before it fails. Imagine pulling on a rope at both ends until it permanently deforms or breaks. The maximum force it can withstand, divided by the cross-sectional area, is the breaking strength.

• Why this is important: High tensile strength is crucial for parts that hang, carry static loads or are pulled apart, such as lifting hooks or brackets.
• Measurement: Stress (force per area), normally in megapascals (MPa)

Bending strength

Flexural strength is the resistance of a material to failure under bending load. This is usually tested using a three-point bending test, in which a sample is held by two supports and loaded in the middle. During bending, one surface is subjected to tensile force as it wants to pull apart, while the opposite surface is subjected to compressive force as it is pushed together. Plastics generally have very good properties under compressive loading, and the bending strength is usually higher than under pure tensile loading.

• Why this is important: High flexural strength is crucial for parts that have to withstand bending forces, such as beams, levers, cantilever brackets and frames.
• Measurement: Stress (force per area), usually in megapascals (MPa)

Modulus of elasticity

The so-called modulus of elasticity, which describes how much a material deforms elastically under load, can be measured in tensile or bending stress.

• Why this is important: A stiff part (high modulus of elasticity) retains its shape under load, while a flexible part (low modulus of elasticity) deforms or stretches. For a drilling fixture, a high modulus is desirable to ensure that the drilling position does not shift under load. For a snap-fit housing, a balance is desirable, with sufficient flexibility to engage but sufficient stiffness to hold.
• Measurement: Stress per unit of elongation – usually GPa or MPa, as the elongation is treated as a ratio to the original length. Even if the unit is identical to the strength, the stress is measured per percent elongation. A material with a modulus of 1000 MPa requires a stress of 10 MPa to elongate by 1 percent of its original length.

Impact resistance (Izod, Charpy or Gardner impact resistance)

Impact strength measures the ability of a material to absorb shocks and sudden energy without breaking. A material with high tensile strength but low impact strength (such as glass or standard PLA) is considered “brittle”. If you need a part that can withstand drops or impacts, look for a high impact strength. For Izod and Charpy impact resistance, samples can be either “unnotched” or “notched”, where a small V-shaped notch is cut into the part. This notch serves as a starting point for crack propagation and makes the test much more difficult.

• Why this is important: Crucial for protective housings, drone parts, fixtures, brackets, tools or objects that could fall.
• Measurement: Energy absorbed divided by the thickness or area of the test specimen (J/m) or kJ/m². For Gardner impact strength, only the energy is specified.

Heat deflection temperature (HDT)

The HDT is the temperature at which a polymer deforms under a certain load. The HDT is the preferred method for comparing the temperature at which the load-bearing capacity decreases. Glass transition temperature (Tg) is sometimes used as a substitute for HDT, and while this works well for amorphous thermoplastics such as ABS, Tg and HDT can be very different from HDT for semi-crystalline materials (nylon, PP) and thermosets such as SLA resins.

• Why this is important: “Strong” parts are useless if they warp in a hot car or in an enclosure with electronics. This is important for parts in mechanical assemblies, machines or parts used in hot environments.
• Measurement: Failure temperature in degrees Celsius (°C) at a load of 0.45 MPa or 1.8 MPa.

FDM vs SLA vs SLS: Which 3D printing technology is stronger?

The compressive strength depends on more than just the material. Whether FDM, SLA or SLS – the printing technology determines the structural integrity of the end product. The fundamental differences lie in the print quality, the costs and the variety of materials.

FDM

Strong parts can be produced with FDM, but these are anisotropic and generally much weaker along the Z-axis.

FDM printers build parts by extruding molten plastic layer by layer. While the bond within a single layer (X- and Y-axis) is strong, the bond between the layers (Z-axis) is significantly weaker, often by 30 to 50 percent.

SLA

SLA printers use a laser to cure liquid resin. This chemical process creates covalent bonds during the formation of each layer. As a result, SLA parts are isotropic: they have uniform strength in the X, Y and Z axes.

Engineers have more design freedom with SLA than with FDM. They can orient a part for optimal surface finish or print speed without fear that loading from the “wrong” angle will result in delamination. With advanced engineering resins, SLA can outperform several FDM filaments in terms of tensile strength and stiffness.

SLS

SLS printers use a high-power laser to sinter a thermoplastic powder. As with SLA, the sintering process produces almost isotropic parts. The biggest advantage of SLS 3D printers is that they do not require support structures for printing.

SLS 3D printing offers some of the strongest 3D printing materials, including a range of nylon powders.

FDM vs SLA vs SLS: comparing the strengths of the technologies

Materials in detail

Compare material options to determine the strongest 3D printing material for a specific application. Additional recommendations are provided for the most durable and heat-resistant materials for FDM, SLA and SLS 3D printing.

The strongest, most durable and
heat-resistant FDM materials

The materials are divided into the categories “strongest”, “most resistant” and “most heat-resistant”, with polycarbonate (PC) meeting all of these criteria.

Polycarbonate (PC) is the strongest consumer material available before expensive industrial polymers such as PEEK and PEKK. It is the same material used in bulletproof glass and protective shields. In FDM printing, it offers a significant improvement over ABS and nylon in terms of both heat resistance and impact strength. It is a challenging material to print and is often mixed with other materials to make printing easier, but this also results in a reduction in strength.

• Advantages: Extreme toughness (impact strength), very high heat resistance, optical clarity (in certain translucent blends) and high tensile strength.
• Disadvantages: Difficult to print (requires very high nozzle temperatures of ~270-310°C), hygroscopic (absorbs moisture) and tends to deform and delaminate without a heated coating.
• Tensile strength: High (60-70 MPa). It is stronger than nylon and ABS and can withstand considerable loads.
• Stiffness: Moderate (2-2.5 GPa). Similar to ABS, but not as stiff as PLA.
• Impact resistance: Very high. PC is probably the most resistant non-flexible filament. It can withstand repeated heavy blows with a hammer without breaking.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. With an HDT of ~110-130 °C, it remains rigid even in environments where PLA and ABS would soften.
• Best suited for: High temperature functional parts, automotive components (under the hood), electrical housings and transparent, durable covers.

Overall, polycarbonate is the best choice for parts that need to be strong and heat resistant if your 3D printer can handle the heat required for printing.

The strongest FDM materials

Carbon fiber reinforced filaments (CF-Nylon/CF-PETG)

Carbon fiber filaments usually consist of a base plastic (such as nylon, PETG or ABS) filled with chopped or ground carbon fibers. These fillers increase the stiffness of the material, but usually do not significantly improve tensile strength unless longer chopped fibers are used, which can cause nozzle clogging. The addition of carbon fiber fillers tends to reduce the deformation of materials such as PC and nylon. When fillers are added to amorphous materials such as ABS, PC and PETG, the HDT results in minimal improvements, while the addition of fillers to nylon can result in an HDT just below the processing temperature of the material.

• Advantages: Extreme rigidity (high modulus), high dimensional stability (better warpage resistance than the base material), low weight, good surface quality.
• Disadvantages: Abrasive (requires a hardened steel nozzle to print), expensive and can be more brittle and difficult to print than the unreinforced base material.
• Tensile strength: High (50-100+ MPa, depending on base material). The strength can be higher with long fibers and higher loads than with the base material, but the strength can decrease with small fibers.
• Stiffness: Extreme (3-6 GPa). The fibers prevent the plastic from stretching and significantly reduce deflection under load.
• Impact resistance: Moderate to good. Although strong, the added stiffness means it absorbs less energy before failure than pure nylon.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. The fibers help the part retain its shape when exposed to heat, so the heat deflection temperature is often higher than the base plastic alone, reaching 150-160 °C.
• Best suited for: Structural parts, drone frames, automotive components, fixtures and brackets where rigidity is critical.

Carbon fiber filaments are overall the strongest 3D printer filaments available for FDM in terms of stiffness and structural strength.

PEEK (polyether ether ketone)

PEEK belongs to the PAEK family of high-performance thermoplastics and is widely regarded as one of the strongest polymer materials. It is widely used in aerospace and medical implants and serves as a legitimate lightweight replacement for metal.

• Advantages: Extreme chemical resistance, biocompatible (safe for implants), excellent strength-to-weight ratio and fire resistant.
• Disadvantages: Extremely expensive (often several hundred francs per kg), requires special industrial printers (nozzle temperatures ~400 °C or more, chamber temperatures ~100 °C or more) and is difficult to process.
• Tensile strength: Extreme (90-100 MPa). PEEK almost reaches the strength of some aluminum alloys, but is significantly lighter.
• Stiffness: Very high (3.5-4.5 GPa). PEEK is one of the stiffest unfilled polymers.
• Impact resistance: High. It is incredibly tough and resists fatigue and stress cracking very well.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. It can withstand continuous exposure to temperatures of up to 260 °C (when annealed) and is therefore suitable for engine parts and valves in the aerospace industry.
• Best suited for: Metal replacement, aerospace components, medical implants and chemical processing equipment

Overall, PEEK is a high-performance material for mechanical engineering.

PEKK (polyether ketone ketone)

PEKK is a close relative of PEEK, but is often preferred in 3D printing as it is slightly easier to process. Its molecular structure allows for a slower crystallization rate, reducing the internal stresses that lead to deformation during the printing process.

• Advantages: Less deformation during printing than PEEK, excellent layer adhesion, extreme chemical and heat resistance, low outgassing (crucial for space applications).
• Disadvantages: Extremely expensive, requires industrial hardware for high temperatures, requires annealing (baking out) to release full thermal properties.
• Tensile strength: Very high (80-93 MPa). Although the raw tensile strength is sometimes slightly lower than PEEK, it often has better compressive strength.
• Stiffness: High (2.5-4 GPa), slightly less stiff than PEEK, but still stiffer than most unfilled polymers.
• Impact resistance: High. Like PEEK, it is durable and robust and is suitable for harsh environments.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. Similar to PEEK, it can withstand temperatures of well over 150 °C and, after tempering, up to ~250 °C or more.
• Best suited for: Aerospace parts (due to low outgassing), oil and gas components and structural parts where PEEK deforms too much.

PEKK is often the strongest and most reliable alternative to PEEK in the production of parts that could deform.

PLA (polylactic acid)

PLA is the standard material for most FDM printers. It is easy to print and produces stiff parts with good detail but low overall durability.

It has a medium to high tensile strength (50-60 MPa), often higher than ABS or PETG. However, this strength is deceptive, as PLA is extremely brittle.

• Advantages: High rigidity, easy to print, affordable.
• Disadvantages: Very low impact strength, low heat resistance (deforms at around 50 °C), biodegradable (can decompose under UV exposure/moisture).
• Strength: The tensile strength is high (53 MPa).
• Stiffness: High (2.5-3.5 GPa) PLA is very stiff and deforms less under load than ABS or PETG.
• Toughness: The impact strength is very low with a notched impact value of 16 J/m. PLA is brittle; it breaks rather than bends when it is hit.
• Heat resistance: Low. PLA softens at around 55-60 °C and is therefore unsuitable for high-temperature applications. PLA can often be annealed similar to PEKK and PEEK to improve the thermal properties through additional polymer crystallization. PLA that has been heat-treated in this way has a temperature resistance of around 110 °C to 130 °C.
• Best suited for: Aesthetic models, non-load-bearing prototypes, fast “look-like” models.

Overall, PLA is well suited for rigid, static objects (such as a pen holder), but is too brittle for strong, functional mechanical parts.

The most resistant FDM materials

PETG (polyethylene terephthalate, glycol-modified)

PETG is a modified version of the common PET material used to make water bottles and food packaging and has a recycling code of “1”. PETG has a modified polymer chain to improve processability, making it suitable for applications such as injection molding and 3D printing.

PETG is one of the most commonly used 3D printing filaments.

• Advantages: Tougher than PLA and at the same time much easier to print than ABS or nylon.
• Disadvantages: Can cause “stringing” on prints.
• Tensile strength: high (45-55 MPa) Similar to PLA.
• Stiffness: Medium to high (2.0-3.0 GPa) Stiffer than ABS and almost as stiff as PLA.
• Impact resistance: Low to moderate; generally higher than PLA, but lower than ABS.
• Heat resistance: Low. Usually ~70 °C

PETG is an all-purpose option that lies between PLA and ABS in terms of impact strength and temperature resistance.

ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene)

ABS is the industry standard for injection-molded consumer goods (such as LEGO® bricks). In 3D printing, it offers a balanced strength profile. It has a lower tensile strength than PLA (~34-36 MPa), but significantly higher impact strength and ductility.

• Advantages: Deforms before breaking (ductile), withstands temperatures up to ~85 °C, can be smoothed with acetone.
• Disadvantages: Tends to warp during the printing process, releases carcinogenic vapors, lower raw tensile strength.
• Tensile strength: Lower than PLA, but sufficient for many plastic parts.
• Stiffness: Moderate.
• Impact resistance: Moderate. ABS is more impact resistant than PLA, but tends to have poor layer adhesion, which leads to easier breakage in the Z-direction.
• Heat resistance: Moderate. It can withstand temperatures of up to ~85-95 °C.
• Best suited for: Durable consumer goods, housings, parts that require heat resistance.

ABS is a common answer to the question of which is the strongest 3D printer filament for general use, as it is a reliable choice for functional parts that need to withstand drops or a hot environment. However, it develops vapors and can be difficult to print reliably on low-cost devices.

Nylon (polyamide)

Nylon (polyamide) is widely regarded as one of the toughest thermoplastics. Unlike PLA (which is rigid) or ABS (which is ductile), nylon offers a unique combination of strength, flexibility and wear resistance.

Nylon is the material of choice for functional parts that have to withstand repeated mechanical stress, friction or fatigue without breaking. It is self-lubricating and therefore ideal for gears and moving parts. The properties of nylon vary considerably depending on the grade, and many filaments are blends of different types of nylon such as PA6, PA12 and PA11.

• Advantages: High impact resistance, low coefficient of friction, excellent chemical resistance and high fatigue strength.
• Disadvantages: Highly hygroscopic (quickly absorbs moisture from the air and ruins prints), tends to deform, requires high printing temperatures. Nylon filaments are often filled with carbon fiber to reduce shrinkage and make the material easier to print.
• Tensile strength: High (40-80 MPa). This varies greatly depending on quality and moisture conditioning. Dry nylon is stronger and stiffer, but the moisture content “plasticizes” or softens the material.
• Stiffness: Moderate to low (1.5-2.0 GPa). Generally less rigid than ABS
• Impact resistance: Good. Nylon can be more resistant than ABS depending on the quality and moisture content of the end product.
• Heat resistance: Very good. Depending on the specific compound (PA6, PA12), it can generally withstand temperatures of up to 120 °C or more.
• Best suited for: Gears, bearings, hinges, latches and tool handles.

Nylon is a good choice for durable, impact-resistant parts that require some flexibility. When asked which is the strongest 3D printer filament for functional gears and hinges, the answer is usually nylon.

Heat-resistant FDM materials

Chopped or ground glass and carbon fiber are added to the filament to increase temperature resistance and stiffness. Polyetherimide (PEI) is a material that falls into this category. Commonly known as Ultem® (brand name), PEI filament is known for its heat resistance, strength and chemical stability.

The strongest, toughest and most heat-resistant SLA resins

The strongest SLA resins

Rigid 10K Resin

Rigid 10K Resin is the stiffest material in the portfolio of our partner Formlabs. This material is also one of the most heat resistant. It is glass-filled and was developed to simulate the properties of glass fiber reinforced thermoplastics. The designation “10K” refers to its tensile modulus of over 10,000 MPa. It feels like ceramic or stone in the hand.

• Advantages: Extreme rigidity, smooth, matt surface, high dimensional accuracy, heat-resistant.
• Disadvantages: Very brittle. Like ceramic, it breaks when dropped or bent.
• Tensile strength: Very high (88 MPa). One of Formlabs’ strongest materials.
• Stiffness: Extreme (10 GPa). It resists deformation under load better than almost any other resin. Stiffer than most filaments and powders – even those with carbon fiber fillers.
• Impact strength: Very low. It has almost no ductility.
• Heat resistance: Extreme. It withstands heavy loads at high temperatures (HDT ~238 °C).
• Best suited for: Injection molds, aerodynamic test models, heat-resistant industrial parts and welding fixtures.

Conclusion: Rigid 10K Resin is the best choice for parts that must not deform or bend, such as molds, fixtures and dies.

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Rigid 4000 Resin

Rigid 4000 Resin is a glass fiber reinforced plastic with a modulus of 4000 MPa, which is lower than that of Rigid 10K Resin. In terms of strength and stiffness, it is similar to PEEK (polyether ether ketone). It offers high rigidity while being more durable and tougher than the ceramic-like Rigid 10K Resin.

• Advantages: Stiff and firm, polished surface, higher impact resistance than Rigid 10K Resin.
• Disadvantages: Still brittle compared to the Tough Resin family, wears out the pressure tanks over time.
• Tensile strength: High (69 MPa). It is a strong, structural plastic.
• Impact resistance: Low. It is brittle, but less susceptible to breakage than Rigid 10K Resin.
• Heat resistance: Moderate. HDT is approx. 77 °C at 0.45 MPa.
• Best suited for: Thin-walled parts, brackets, fixtures, fixtures and mounts that require rigidity but may be subject to low vibration.

Conclusion: Rigid 4000 Resin is a universally applicable, stiff material that represents a compromise between the extreme stiffness of Rigid 10K Resin and the durability of all-purpose resins.

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All-purpose resins

Formlabs general purpose resins (including but not limited to Color Resin, Black Resin, Grey Resin, Clear Resin and White Resin) are versatile resins that are stiff and strong with a modulus of approximately 2600 MPa depending on color and post cure protocol.

• Advantages: Available in different colors, fast printing, good fineness, less brittle than PLA filaments and comparable to PETG in terms of toughness, but fully anisotropic with better properties in the Z-direction.
• Disadvantages: Not as strong or stiff as filled resins, but also not as tough as the Tough Resin family or tough thermoplastics like ABS. More expensive than general purpose filaments.
• Tensile strength: High (~62 MPa)
• Stiffness: Medium to high (2600 MPa)
• Impact resistance: Medium. The Notched-Izod value of 32 J/m is higher than that of Rigid 4000 Resin.
• Heat resistance: Low. HDT is around 71 °C at 0.45 MPa.
• Best suited for: Prototypes for form and fit, presentation-ready models, jigs and fixtures.

The most resistant SLA resins

Tough 1000 Resin

Tough 1000 Resin is the most pliable and impact resistant resin in Formlabs’ Tough Resin family. It has been formulated to have comparable toughness to high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or Delrin (POM). It offers a low modulus (stiffness) of ~1000 MPa, making it incredibly tough and wear resistant. Like the other resins in the Tough Resin family, Tough 1000 Resin is named after its modulus.

• Advantages: Extreme impact resistance (the highest in the Tough Resin family), high elongation (180%), excellent wear resistance and a smooth, low-friction surface.
• Disadvantages: Very flexible (not suitable for rigid structural parts), lower heat resistance.
• Tensile strength: Low (26.3 MPa). It yields and stretches instead of withstanding a heavy static load.
• Stiffness: Low. One of the most flexible non-elastomeric materials in the Formlabs portfolio.
• Impact strength: Extreme. With an impact strength of 72 J/m, it can compete with industrial thermoplastics and is probably the most difficult resin to break due to its high fracture energy.
• Heat resistance: Low. The HDT is around 55 °C at 0.45 MPa.
• Best suited for: Impact-resistant devices, compressible prototypes, low-friction assemblies (such as gears and ball joints).

Conclusion: Tough 1000 Resin is the best resin for durable parts that have to withstand falls from great heights.

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Tough 1500 Resin

Tough 1500 Resin is a resilient material with strength, stiffness and toughness comparable to polypropylene (PP) and offers exceptional resistance to breakage, impact and chipping. It has an excellent balance between rigidity and ductility.

• Advantages: It lies between Tough 1000 Resin and Tough 2000 Resin and combines high toughness, strength and rigidity. It is also safe for short-term skin contact.
• Disadvantages: Lower tensile strength than Tough 2000 Resin, but not as tough and impact resistant as Tough 1000 Resin.
• Tensile strength: Moderate (34 MPa). It is less resistant to tensile forces than Tough 2000 Resin, but more ductile.
• Stiffness: Low to moderate (1.5 GPa). Although it is stiffer than Tough 1000 Resin, it is one of the more flexible materials and is comparable to some nylon materials.
• Impact resistance: Very high. With high Gardner impact strength and breakage resistance, it absorbs energy exceptionally well without breaking.
• Heat resistance: Low to moderate. The HDT is around 66 °C at 0.45 MPa.
• Best suited for: Locks, bending elements, dampers, fasteners and buckles, self-tapping bolts and hinges.

Conclusion: Tough 1500 Resin is best suited for parts that require a combination of stiffness and ductility.

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Tough 2000 Resin

Tough 2000 Resin is the strongest and stiffest material in Formlabs’ Tough Resin family. Designed to rival the properties of injection molded ABS plastic, it is the ideal resin for functional prototypes when you need a part that is tough, holds its shape but won’t break under stress, and is strong enough for functional fixtures and brackets.

• Advantages: Excellent ratio between rigidity and flexibility, resistant to cyclic loading (fatigue), similar properties to injection-molded ABS.
• Disadvantages: Less tough than Tough 1000 Resin and Tough 1500 Resin.
• Tensile strength: Moderate (40.4 MPa). It is strong enough for functional fixtures, brackets and mechanical fasteners and parts normally injection molded in ABS.
• Impact resistance: High. It offers high fracture toughness, making it significantly more resistant to falls and sudden impacts than standard resins.
• Heat resistance: Moderate. It has an HDT of 70 °C at 0.45 MPa.
• Best suited for: Housings, fixtures and functional prototypes that work like ABS.

Conclusion: Tough 2000 Resin is ideal for parts that need to be stiff but not brittle.

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The most temperature-resistant synthetic resins

High Temp Resin

High Temp Resin has the highest HDT of all Formlabs resins. It has been specially developed for thermal stability and can therefore withstand the heat of molding processes or hot air/liquid flow.

• Advantages: Extreme heat resistance (highest in this class), precise details.
• Disadvantages: Very brittle (similar to glass), absorbs moisture over time and is difficult to re-treat.
• Tensile strength: Moderate (~49 MPa). Well suited for shaping, but not for mechanical loads.
• Stiffness: Moderate to high (2.8 GPa)
• Impact resistance: Very low. Parts break when dropped.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. With an HDT of 238°C at 0.45 MPa, it is one of the most temperature-resistant 3D printing materials.
• Best suited for: Molds and inserts, parts exposed to hot air, gas and liquid flows, and heat-resistant brackets, housings and fixtures.

Conclusion: High Temp Resin is a special material that is used almost exclusively in applications where standard plastics would melt or deform.

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The strongest SLS powders

Nylon 12 Powder

Nylon 12 powder is the industry’s gold standard for SLS. It offers a versatile balance of strength, stiffness and detail with very low moisture absorption. It is the easiest powder to print and reliably produces parts with tight tolerances and complex geometries.

• Advantages: Excellent dimensional accuracy, easy to print, balanced mechanical properties and good refresh rate.
• Disadvantages: Less ductile than nylon 11 powder. It is stiffer and breaks more quickly when bent sharply.
• Tensile strength: High (50 MPa). It offers excellent general structural strength suitable for most engineering applications.
• Stiffness: Moderate (1.9 GPa)
• Impact resistance: Moderate (32 J/m Notched Izod). Although tough, it is significantly less impact resistant than Nylon 11 powder or Nylon 12 Tough powder.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. It can withstand temperatures of up to 171 °C at 0.45 MPa.
• Best suited for: Highly detailed prototypes, permanent jigs and fixtures, housings and general end-use parts.

Conclusion: Nylon 12 powder offers the best balance between printability and performance for general prototyping and production where extreme ductility is not required.

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Nylon 12 Tough Powder

Nylon 12 Tough Powder is a special formulation that offers improved ductility and toughness while providing the same versatility and ease of use as standard Nylon 12. It is less brittle than standard Nylon 12 powder and offers the best refresh rate in the industry (reusing up to 80 percent of the old powder).

• Advantages: High ductility (bends without breaking), excellent dimensional accuracy (reduced deformation) and very cost-effective due to low refresh rate.
• Disadvantages: Lower tensile strength than standard nylon 12 powder. Lower heat resistance under high mechanical stress.
• Tensile strength: Moderate (42 MPa). Although it is slightly weaker than standard nylon 12 powder (50 MPa), its flexibility compensates for this.
• Stiffness: Low to moderate (1.5 GPa)
• Impact resistance: Good (60 J/m Notched Izod). It absorbs impacts well and is ideal for parts that need to be snapped or bent.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. It can withstand temperatures up to 161°C at 0.45 MPa, but softens at lower temperatures under high loads (HDT at 1.8 MPa is 46°C).
• Best suited for: Snap fasteners, ratchets, hinges, functional prototypes and long parts that tend to warp.

Conclusion: Nylon 12 Tough Powder is the powder of choice for difficult geometries that tend to warp or for parts that require greater flexibility than standard Nylon 12 Powder.

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Nylon 12 GF Powder

Nylon 12 GF Powder is a glass fiber reinforced composite developed for applications where stiffness and thermal stability are critical. By incorporating glass beads into the standard Nylon 12 base, this powder creates parts that are significantly stiffer and flatter than unreinforced nylon, making it ideal for maintaining structural rigidity under stress or heat.

• Advantages: High rigidity (high tensile modulus of elasticity), excellent thermal stability (high HDT) and very dimensionally stable components with minimal distortion.
• Disadvantages: More brittle than unfilled nylon 12; has an abrasive effect on finishing tools over time.
• Tensile strength: Medium (38 MPa). Although the maximum tensile strength is slightly lower than that of pure nylon 12, the material resists elongation (deformation) significantly better.
• Stiffness: Medium to high (2.8 GPa).
• Impact strength: Low to medium (23 J/m, notched impact strength according to Izod). The glass fiber reinforcement increases stiffness at the expense of ductility, which means that the material is more likely to break than deform under sudden load.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. Compared to standard nylon-12, it has a higher heat resistance (175 °C at 0.45 MPa) and retains its shape better even at elevated temperatures.
• Ideally suited for: Rigid housings, devices, tools, threads and components that have to withstand permanently high loads without creeping.

Conclusion: Nylon 12 GF Powder is the first choice for stiff and dimensionally stable components. It is ideal when the good processability of nylon 12 is required but higher rigidity is needed at the same time.

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Nylon 11 Powder

Nylon 11 Powder is a high-performance, bio-based material specifically designed for components that can bend and deform without breaking. While standard nylons are already robust, Nylon 11 Powder offers significantly higher ductility and impact strength. This makes it the ideal choice for applications where components may be dropped, twisted or subjected to sudden loads.

• Advantages: Exceptional ductility (40% elongation at break), high impact strength and excellent long-term stability. The material is bio-based (obtained from castor oil) and is particularly suitable for filigree structures.
• Disadvantages: May be more prone to warping than Nylon 12 Powder if components are not optimally aligned. For best material properties and optimum powder refreshment, printing in an inert nitrogen atmosphere is recommended.
• Tensile strength: High (49 MPa). The material can withstand high loads, but is characterized above all by its ability to stretch considerably before failure.
• Stiffness: Low to medium (1.6 GPa).
• Impact strength: Very high (71 J/m, notched impact strength according to Izod). The material absorbs energy very efficiently and is one of the most fracture-resistant powders on the market.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. Heat deflection temperature (HDT) of 182°C at 0.45 MPa.
• Ideally suited for: Snap-on connections, film hinges, orthoses, prostheses and thin-walled air ducts that have to withstand high mechanical loads.

Conclusion: Nylon 11 Powder is the first choice for maximum durability and performance. If components have to withstand real loads, impacts or permanent bending, this material is the optimum solution.

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Nylon 11 CF Powder

Nylon 11 CF Powder is the strongest and most heat-resistant material in Formlabs’ SLS material portfolio. By reinforcing Nylon 11 Powder with carbon fibers, this material bridges the gap between plastic and metal. It combines the high impact strength of Nylon 11 with the extreme stiffness of carbon fibers to create parts that are stiff, lightweight and suitable for repeated structural loading.

• Advantages: Excellent strength-to-weight ratio, extreme stiffness (high modulus of elasticity) and excellent thermal stability.
• Disadvantages: Requires printing in an inert nitrogen atmosphere; components are very stiff and show little plastic deformation before breakage compared to unfilled nylon.
• Tensile strength: Very high (69 MPa). Significantly higher than standard nylons and very resistant to deformation under high loads.
• Stiffness: Up to 5.3 GPa, depending on the component orientation, as the fibers are aligned along the X-axis.
• Impact strength: High (74 J/m, notched impact strength according to Izod). In contrast to many carbon fiber-reinforced filaments, the toughness of nylon 11 is retained, giving the material a high fracture resistance.
• Heat resistance: Excellent. Heat deflection temperature (HDT) of approx. 188°C at 0.45 MPa, making the material suitable for applications in the engine compartment or for high-temperature tools.
• Ideally suited for: Metal replacement, highly stressed components, aerodynamic components as well as rigid devices and gauges.

Conclusion: Nylon 11 CF Powder is the premium solution for structural components that need to be stiff, light and heat-resistant at the same time.

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