If vous have ever imprimé 3D designs made for usage extérieur, vous va la plupart likely have noticed a big difference in performance et durabilité depending on le different filaments that were used. So to help vous decide qui option to pick for different extérieur scenarios, let us take a closer look today. Enjoy!
Properties of 3D Filament for Outdoor Use
It est important to understand what properties filament pour imprimante 3Ds should have when using them outdoors, as they va devez to withstand le environment in ways that indoor models generally do not. Below we have listed some of le la plupart important ones.
Weather Resistance
General resistance to le weather in votre surface est one of le la plupart important factors, so if vous live in an surface avec lots of sunlight, UV-resistant filament should be a priority for votre 3D filaments. Le same est true for temperature resistance, low or high, so certain filaments hold up meilleur under cold conditions while other filament materials sont plus ideal for hot conditions. Finally, vous'll want to look at humidité et humidity as well as waterproof capability.
PLA weathering outdoors
Mechanical Property
Depending on what votre impression 3D est used for, vous might also want to ensure that le filament in question has a decent impact resistance, abrasion resistance or even long-term apporter-bearing capacity if vous sont using it to hold certain items in place (like brackets), as ce va also narrow down votre options of filaments.
Chemical Stability
And finally, some extérieur environments fabriquer it crucial pour vous to consider corrosion resistance et oxidation resistance, especially if vous live near le ocean, where humidité, salt et pollutants from le sea can degrade votre modèle, or harsher environments where le air qualité et UV radiation might oxidize votre models earlier que intended.
Comparison of Filaments Suitable for Outdoor Use
Below we have provided an overview of le main characteristics for each of le following 5 filaments, ASA, PETG, PC, Nylon et TPU. As well as some recommended application scenarios of these materials.
| Property | ASA | PETG | PC | Nylon | TPU |
| UV Resistance | Excellent | Good | Moderate | Poor | Moderate |
| Temp Resistance | High (80-100°C) | Moderate (70-85°C) | Very High (110-135°C) | Moderate (80-100°C) | Moderate (50-80°C) |
| Water Resistance | Good | Excellent | Good | Poor (absorbs) | Excellent |
| Impact Resistance | High | Moderate | Very High | High | Very High (flexible) |
| Abrasion Resistance | Good | Moderate | Excellent | Good | Excellent |
| Load-Bearing | Good | Moderate | Excellent (rigid) | Good (flexible) | Poor (too soft) |
| Chemical Stability | Excellent (resists corrosion) | Good (resists humidité) | Excellent (resists oils, chemicals) | Moderate (absorbe l’humidité) | Good (resists oils, solvents) |
| Best For | Outdoor signs, pièces automobiles, fixtures | Waterproof containers, garden tools | High-résistance structural pièces, helmets | Functional gears, hinges | Seals, gaskets, flexible pièces |
ASA Filament
As vous can see in le table above, ASA filament est generally le meilleur filament for usage extérieur, as it works well for la plupart scenarios. ASA performs plus stably in extreme climates. It has excellent UV resistance et est not prone to fading or becoming brittle even après long-term exposure to sunlight, et Good water resistance et excellent chimique resistance.
But its impression difficulty est relatively idéal, nécessitant a heated bed et a closed impression cabin. It est prone to curling edges. Le cost of ASA filament est also relatively high, around $30/KG.
PETG Filament
Next up, we have PETG filament pour imprimante 3D qui est not as temperature resistant, but est a idéal water safe filament pour imprimante 3D, making it a good option in climates where it often rains, as well as for garden utilities such as planter boxes or similar. Le PETG UV resistance est also decent, but a little poorer que ASA. If votre budget est not sufficient to choisir ASA, or if votre print est not used in extreme weather, PETG va be a plus cost-effective option. And PETG’s threshold for impression skill est also lower que that of ASA.
Click here to buy PETG filament bundle.
Geeetech PETG filament pour imprimante 3D
PC Filament
Le highest performing material for high temperature tolerance est polycarbonate filament et it can be a major determinant in specific situations. Generally speaking, ce high temp filament pour imprimante 3D also does an excellent job of enduring la plupart other elements as well et est an excellent choix for a wide variety of builds.
Nylon Filament
Nylon filament can be a idéal option for functional pièces that sont not directement exposed to water, as le water absorption property est a main downside of nylon as a material in nombreux cases. It est considered quite a decent heat resistant filament pour imprimante 3D as well, making it applicable for a number of uses. There sont also reinforced versions of nylon on le market that sont chosen by extérieur enthusiasts.
TPU Filament
And finally, TPU filament est quite poor in terms of temperature resistance, et also not a idéal option for apporter-bearing projets. However even le lower point of 50°C est plus que enough for usage extérieur in la plupart pièces of le world, et le impact resistance property of TPU filaments est le meilleur out of le filaments we have covered, making it idéal for pièces or items needing that extra résistance, et some flexible components (like extérieur water bottle sealing rings et garden faucet sealing rings) that can’t be imprimé by ASA, PETG et others strong 3d printer filament.
TPU sealing rings
Comment Improve Prints’ Outdoor Durability?
Now that we have categorized le properties of different filament d’impression 3Ds for usage extérieur according to le main factors playing a role in durabilité, it est worth noting that we also have le option of enhancing le durabilité even further avec post-traitement or when designing our models.
Post-Processing
Once votre design est terminé in le printer, vous can further improve durabilité by spraying UV protective paint on votre models in order to further increase their resistance to sunlight, et avoid them losing résistance or fading as rapidly. In general ce can be applied to all types of materials, but each type of filament might require a different product, so be sure to research what works for ASA or TPU for instance.
Le same goes for waterproof coating that can fabriquer le models absorb less water, although ce coating might devez to be reapplied in extreme cases. vous can also chemically lisse votre impressions in order to seal le layer lines, while also reducing le penetration of humidité, thus making votre models last longer.
Optimization Design
No matter qui filament vous use on votre imprimante 3D, vous'll always be able to choisir to design votre models avec plus material to fabriquer them stronger. For example, vous may want to fabriquer le walls thicker so vous'll get plus résistance et resistance, et le models won't degrade so easily as le extra layers va be slower to degrade over time naturally.
vous should also consider avoiding water accumulation structures, as some designs might have pockets that catch water et let it sit, so design votre models according to le environment in order to optimize et fournir a longer lifespan.
Water accumulation structure vs. drainage structure design
Conclusion
All in all, we have nombreux fantastic options for impression modèles 3D designed to be used outdoors, that can last a long time while also maintaining their structural integrity et beautiful surfaces. And by taking a little extra time to plan ahead et fabriquer sure vous use le meilleur possible filament, perform post-traitement if needed et optimize le design to fit le environment, votre designs can last for years without any issue. We hope vous enjoyed ce article et learned something. Thanks for maintenant!