There are many types of 3D printing materials, but two that always fight for the top spot, are PETG vs. ABS. What are the differences between these two? And which is right for you? In this blog post, we’ll look at PETG vs. ABS and help you decide which material is best for your needs.
What is ABS Filament Made Of And Advantages?
ABS filament is a type of 3D printing filament made from acrylonitrile butadiene styrene. It is a strong, durable material that can be used for various applications. ABS filament is available in both solid and translucent colors, and it can be printed using a wide range of 3D printers.
Some of the advantages of using ABS filament include:
- Strength: ABS filament is strong and durable, making it ideal for applications that require a high degree of strength and durability.
- Temperature resistance: ABS filament can withstand high temperatures, making it ideal for applications that require exposure to heat or flames.
- Transparency: ABS filament is available in translucent colors, making it ideal for applications that require opacity to let light through.
- Chemical resistance: ABS filament is resistant to chemicals like acetone, making it an ideal material for use in chemical tanks and mixers.
What Is PETG Filament Made Of And Advantages?
PETG stands for polyethylene terephthalate glycol-modified, and it is a thermoplastic polymer. It shares many properties with ABS but has a slightly different chemical makeup. One of the reasons it is so durable compared to other types of filament is that the bonds in its chains are very strong, making it difficult to break them apart.
Some of the advantages of using PETG filament include:
- The ability to print with or without a heated bed
- High impact resistance, making it great for figures and figurines as well as household objects
- Ability to create transparent prints with the addition of dissolvable support material.
- PETG can be printed at low speeds without sacrificing quality. Printing slowly also helps prevent the nozzle from clogging due to melted filament cooling inside the nozzle.
- The combination of its ease of use, affordability, and strong print quality makes PETG filament an excellent choice for those who want to keep it simple.
Differences Between PETG and ABS Filaments
PETG and ABS filaments are both thermoplastic filaments used in 3D printing. They have different properties, making them better or worse for specific applications.
ABS is a harder filament than PETG, making it better for prints that need to be strong and durable. However, ABS is also more brittle than PETG, meaning that it can shatter more easily.
PETG is a softer filament than ABS, making it less likely to shatter. It is also more transparent than ABS, meaning that it can be used to print objects that need to be lightweight. However, it is less durable than ABS.
Strength vs. Flexibility of PETG vs ABS :-
ABS is a harder filament than PETG, making it better for prints that need to be strong and durable. However, ABS is also more brittle than PETG, meaning that it can shatter more easily.
PETG is a softer filament than ABS, making it less likely to shatter. It is also more transparent than ABS, meaning that it can be used to print objects that need to be lightweight. However, it is less durable than ABS.
Transparency of filament in PETG vs ABS
PETG is a transparent filament, while ABS does not come with this property. It is harder to print objects with ABS filament, but any object printed with PETG would look more realistic than one printed with ABS.
The smoothness of PETG vs ABS
The surface finish of ABS and PETG filaments are different. When printing with ABS filament, the resulting model has a rougher surface finish than when using PETG filament. This makes PETG better for printing smooth and shiny surfaces such as vases or bottles, whereas ABS may be better for mechanical parts where the texture adds strength.
Flexibility vs. Fragility of PETG vs ABS
PETG is a transparent filament, while ABS does not come to this property. The result is that it is harder to print objects with ABS filament, but any object printed with PETG would look more realistic than one printed with ABS.
ABS is a stiffer and less flexible filament than PETG. For example, while both can be bent, ABS will break more easily when bent due to the materials it is composed of, while PETG can bend without breaking.
Warping of PETG vs ABS
Both ABS and PETG filaments tend to warp while they are being printed because they shrink as they cool down after leaving the nozzle. However, since ABS shrinks more than PETG, it has a tendency to warp even during printing at lower temperatures (200-220C). This is because the printing surface, which is typically heated to 60-70C when using ABS, cannot cool down quickly enough.
PETG tends to warp when it cools down after leaving the nozzle too much, but not as bad as ABS. This is because PETG shrinks less than ABS, and warping can be reduced by cooling down the print bed more slowly after a print job.
Easy to Print in PETG vs. ABS
Printing PETG filament with PLA settings works well in most cases without any problems such as jamming nozzles. However, ABS requires different settings, such as higher temperatures (230-250C) or slow speeds for printing since it has a lower melting point. Due to the higher temperatures involved, it is harder to print ABS without a heated printer bed.
Printing with PLA settings has been known to work for both ABS and PETG filament. Although setting up different extrusion rates may be required depending on the type of printer being used.
Conclusion: PETG vs. ABS
PETG is the clear winner when it comes to plastics. It’s stronger than ABS and has better printability properties. However, if you’re looking for a filament that can be used in more intricate prints like jewelry or other small objects, then ABS may work best. Keep these differences in mind when shopping around so you can find the suitable plastic filament for your needs!
