{"id":164199,"date":"2021-12-23T10:41:04","date_gmt":"2021-12-23T02:41:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/?post_type=kb&p=164199"},"modified":"2022-08-12T17:01:57","modified_gmt":"2022-08-12T09:01:57","slug":"flexible-filaments-for-3d-printing-simply-explained","status":"publish","type":"kb","link":"https:\/\/facfox.com\/docs\/kb\/flexible-filaments-for-3d-printing-simply-explained","title":{"rendered":"Flexible Filaments for 3D Printing \u2013 Simply Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"

An Expanding Trend<\/h3>\n
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Young’s modulus can give a general indication of a material’s elasticity (Source: virginia.edu)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More and more, it seems that customization is driving the world. Creating products that fit the customer\u2019s expectations is the need of the hour. 3D printing is a major factor in this, bringing customized solutions to an entirely new level. Just take a look at our articles on\u00a03D printed fashion<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a03D printed prosthetic arms<\/a>, two examples of applications where 3D printing really shines.<\/p>\n

When it comes to flexible and elastic applications, rubber is the ideal choice. But\u00a0is rubber 3D printable<\/a>? The short answer is no. Hence, we look for alternative materials that are similar to rubber but can be 3D printed.<\/p>\n

From the above chart, we see that elastomers and polymers fall into the category of flexible materials. Combining the advantages of thermoplastics and elastomers, we therefore arrive at a new 3D printable class of materials called thermoplastic\u00a0elastomers (TPEs).<\/p>\n

In this article, we\u2019ll look at a few different types of TPE as well as another type of flexible filament called soft PLA. Hopefully, through reading about these different materials, you can get a better idea of which is best for your needs!<\/p>\n

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Overviews of TPEs<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Classification of TPE grades according to their Shore hardness values (Source: smooth-on.com)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Thermoplastic elastomers (TPEs)<\/a>\u00a0are polymers that exhibit elasticity similar to that of a cross-linked rubber. The degree of elasticity in the material depends on the type of TPE and the chemical structure of the grade. In addition, this grade of elastomers come with the processing advantages of thermoplastics, which is good for 3D printing!<\/p>\n

If you search for\u00a0TPE filaments<\/a>, you may become confused and a little annoyed at the options that appear. That\u2019s because TPE is a wide category of materials, which includes several other types, such as TPU. We\u2019ll see more of that very shortly.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s also important to note that not all varieties of flexible filament will be marketed as TPE, a subtype of TPE, or under any other recognizable\u00a0material classification. Nevertheless, most will belong to one of the categories presented in this article.<\/p>\n

Features of TPE<\/strong><\/p>\n