Nylon Filament for 3D Printing
Overview
Nylon filament is a popular material in 3D printing known for its exceptional strength, flexibility, and durability. It is often used in industrial and engineering applications due to its impressive mechanical properties and resistance to wear and abrasion.
Advantages
- High Strength and Durability: Nylon is known for its high tensile strength and resistance to impact, making it suitable for functional parts and mechanical components.
- Flexibility: Offers a good balance between flexibility and rigidity, making it ideal for parts that require both durability and some degree of flexibility.
- Abrasion Resistance: Excellent resistance to wear and tear, ensuring long-lasting prints.
- Chemical Resistance: Resistant to many chemicals, oils, and solvents, which enhances its durability in harsh environments.
Disadvantages
- Moisture Absorption: Nylon is hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs moisture from the air, which can affect print quality and lead to warping. Proper storage is crucial.
- High Printing Temperature: Requires higher printing temperatures compared to other filaments, which may not be suitable for all printers.
- Post-Processing: Can be challenging to post-process due to its toughness and flexibility.
Technical Specifications
- Density: 1.14 g/cm³ (71 lb/ft³)
- Dielectric Constant (Relative Permittivity): 3.7
- Dielectric Strength (Breakdown Potential): 20 kV/mm (0.79 V/mil)
- Elastic (Young’s, Tensile) Modulus: 2.5 GPa (0.36 x 10⁶ psi)
- Elongation at Break: 50%
- Flexural Modulus: 2.0 GPa (0.29 x 10⁶ psi)
- Flexural Strength: 90 MPa (13 x 10³ psi)
- Glass Transition Temperature: 70°C (158°F)
- Melting Onset (Solidus): 255°C (491°F)
- Shear Strength: 65 MPa (9.4 x 10³ psi)
- Specific Heat Capacity: 1700 J/kg-K
- Strength-to-Weight Ratio: 45 kN-m/kg
- Tensile Strength: Ultimate (UTS): 80 MPa (12 x 10³ psi)
- Thermal Conductivity: 0.25 W/m-K
- Thermal Diffusivity: 0.20
- Thermal Expansion: 85 µm/m-K
- Water Absorption After 24 Hours: 1.5%
Material Properties for 3D Printing
- Printing Temperature: 240-260°C
- Flow Tweak: 0.94
- Bed Temperature: 90-110°C
- Bed Preparation: Apply a PVA-based glue stick or use a Garolite build surface for optimal adhesion
Features
- High Tensile Strength: Ideal for printing parts that need to withstand significant mechanical stress.
- Good Layer Adhesion: Provides strong bonds between layers, reducing the risk of delamination.
- Flexibility: Offers a combination of flexibility and strength, making it suitable for various applications.
- Chemical Resistance: Enhances the durability of parts exposed to chemicals and solvents.
Additional Considerations
- Storage: Store Nylon filament in a sealed container with desiccant to prevent moisture absorption, which can lead to printing issues like warping and poor layer adhesion.
- Print Quality: Ensure proper bed adhesion and optimal printing conditions to achieve high-quality prints.
- Post-Processing: Nylon can be challenging to post-process due to its toughness and flexibility; consider using appropriate tools and techniques.
Application Examples
- Functional Parts: Ideal for printing gears, bearings, and mechanical components that require high strength and durability.
- Industrial Prototyping: Suitable for creating prototypes that need to withstand rigorous testing and mechanical stress.
- Wearables: Perfect for printing wearable items that require flexibility and durability.
- Chemical-Resistant Parts: Used for parts that need to endure exposure to chemicals and solvents.
By understanding these properties and considerations, you can effectively use Nylon in your 3D printing projects to achieve high-quality, durable, and functional results.
Nylon remains a preferred choice for many 3D printing applications due to its exceptional strength, flexibility, and resistance to wear and abrasion, making it ideal for both industrial and consumer applications.