With the rapid popularization and application of 3D printing, more and more people are exposed to 3D printing. There are a wide variety of common 3D printing materials on the market today, including plastics, metals, resins, ceramics and composites. For the mainstream 1.75mm 3D printing filament is the most common, and is deeply loved by people.
But the ensuing problem, 3D enthusiasts after a long period of printing, but also need to correctly store the filament material, after all, filament materials are consumables, it will also be affected by the environment, such as oxygen in the air, moisture and temperature. Some of these materials are extremely susceptible to moisture and aging. Below UJOYBIO3D provides a detailed introduction to the characteristics and storage of filament materials, which are the mainstay of 3D printing, for easy reference.
Characteristics of Filament Materials and Storage Suggestions
|
Filament Type |
Characteristics |
Pros and Cons |
Storage Recommendations |
|
PLA (Polylactic Acid) |
Biodegradable, environmentally friendly High ease of use, low printing temperature Ideal for complex models and detailed displays |
Pros: Non-toxic and odorless Easy to print, no warping Highly accurate Disadvantages: Poor heat resistance |
Avoid moisture adsorption: store in a dry box Use silica gel desiccant Store in a cool place, avoid direct sunlight |
|
ABS |
High strength and impact resistance Good stability at high temperatures |
Advantages: Advantages: High heat resistance Suitable for mechanical parts Disadvantages: Releases odor when printing Prone to warping |
Moisture-proof storage: avoid moisture absorption leading to delamination Store in sealed bags/boxes Avoid direct sunlight and high temperatures |
|
PETG |
Combines the ease of use of PLA with the strength of ABS. Water resistant, suitable for functional parts |
Advantages: High toughness Chemical resistant Disadvantages: Easy to stretch when printing, need to adjust parameters |
Store in a dry environment to avoid moisture adsorption Temperature control: 15-25°C Use sealed containers or vacuum bags |
|
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) |
Highly flexible, good elasticity Resistant to abrasion, suitable for flexible parts |
Advantages: High elasticity and abrasion resistance Good resistance to oil and dirt Disadvantages: Slower printing speed |
Moisture resistance: dry storage to prevent moisture absorption Avoid extreme temperatures that can cause deformation Store in sealed containers |
|
Nylon (PA) |
High strength and durability Highly hygroscopic, suitable for functional parts manufacturing |
Advantages: High strength and abrasion resistance Good chemical resistance Disadvantages: Extremely hygroscopic, difficult to print |
Strong moisture protection: store in a dry box with less than 10% humidity Use desiccant or dryer Keep sealed to prevent oxidation |
|
PC (Polycarbonate) |
Very high heat resistance, excellent mechanical properties Suitable for industrial grade applications |
Advantages: High strength, high temperature resistance High transparency Disadvantages: Difficult to print, easy to warp |
Store in a dry environment to prevent moisture absorption Store in a heated dry box Avoid direct exposure to sunlight |
|
PVA (water-soluble filament) |
Can be used as a support material, water soluble |
Advantages: Support structure can be easily removed Environmentally friendly Disadvantages: Extremely hygroscopic, high storage requirements |
Strictly moisture-proof: store in airtight containers Use desiccant or vacuum bags Avoid high temperature and humidity |
Drying oven storage of filament materials
Common storage techniques for filament materials
1. Dry storage:
The use of tools such as desiccators and vacuum bags can greatly reduce the effects of moisture. For highly hygroscopic materials, such as nylon, PVA, etc., they need to be stored in specialized drying equipment. If there is no drying box, drying box, you can use sealed pockets with desiccant for drying.
2. Seal protection:
All unused filament materials, if there is no printing needs, try not to unseal, keep sealed storage to prevent dust or moisture from entering. For the filament that has been unsealed and used, it can be taken down and put into the drying box for storage after use.
3. Environmental control:
Filament material grown up placed in the air, there are moisture effects, and filament delivery service of the best storage temperature of 15-25 ° C, but also need to avoid direct sunlight to avoid causing oxidation, resulting in filament aging.
4. Labeling management:
Under normal circumstances, above the filament outer packaging, are labeled with the type of material and date of purchase, to facilitate timely use and determine the expiration date, so the label on the filament as far as possible before the completion of the use, do not tear.
Through the storage techniques described in the above content, you can extend the life of the filament to ensure that the printing effect.
Methods and precautions to avoid aging of filament materials
|
Filament Type |
Main Aging Causes |
Measures to avoid aging |
Precautions |
|
PLA (Polylactic acid) |
Degradation due to moisture absorption Degradation due to ultraviolet light Deformation due to high temperature |
Store in a sealed dry environment with humidity <20%. Avoid direct sunlight Storage temperature 15-25°C |
Short-term storage should also be sealed Regularly check filament surfaces for brittleness |
|
ABS |
Degradation of surface quality due to hygroscopicity Chemical degradation due to UV and oxidation |
Use UV-resistant sealed bags or opaque packaging. Humidity below 15%, keep dry with a dryer Avoid high ambient temperatures |
Vacuum seal before long-term storage Susceptible to cracking or warping upon aging |
|
PETG |
Moderate hygroscopicity, moisture can cause print bubbles Prolonged exposure to UV light causes degradation |
Store in dry environment with <20% humidity Use UV resistant packaging Avoid contact with aggressive chemicals |
Dry storage is especially important to maintain toughness Check filament for discoloration or brittleness |
|
TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) |
Highly hygroscopic, moisture affects elasticity and printability Prolonged exposure to UV light reduces elasticity |
Store in a dry box at less than 10% humidity. Avoid sunlight and bright light Control temperature between 15-25°C |
Avoid contact with strong acids or solvents Weakening of elasticity due to aging |
|
Nylon (PA) |
Highly hygroscopic, moisture makes it brittle or increases air bubbles High temperatures or oxidation can affect strength |
Strictly moisture-proof storage at less than 10% humidity Can be dryer or vacuum packed Store in opaque containers |
Dry before printing Regularly check filament for whitening or brittleness during storage |
|
PC (Polycarbonate) |
Decomposition due to high temperatures Deterioration due to moisture absorption UV light causes yellowing |
Store at 15-25°C Use a dry box to avoid moisture adsorption UV resistant packaging or store away from light |
Can be dried at low temperature before printing Avoid contact with alkaline or acidic substances |
|
PVA (water soluble filament) |
Extremely hygroscopic, humidity causes dissolution High temperature induced degradation |
Vacuum packed with desiccant Store in a moisture-proof environment with humidity <5%. Controlled temperature 15-20°C |
Short storage time, not suitable for long term storage Avoid direct exposure to air |
General tips to slow down filament aging
1. Moisture-proof storage:
Moisture is one of the main causes of filament material aging, use dry box, vacuum bag, or add silica gel desiccant in the package to prevent filament material from absorbing moisture. Such as nylon, PVA and other filament materials need to be dried before printing, you can use a heated dryer.
2. Store away from light:
Ultraviolet light has a significant degradation effect on filament materials such as PLA and ABS. It is necessary to store the filament in an opaque package to avoid direct sunlight, causing aging.
3. Temperature control:
High temperature will accelerate the degradation of filament materials, it is recommended to keep the storage environment at 15-25°C, while avoiding extreme high or low temperature environment.
4. Classification storage:
Different filament materials need to be stored separately to avoid the poor moisture absorption of filament materials, such as nylon materials will cause cross-contamination of other materials.
5. Regular inspection:
You can regularly observe the appearance of the filament for signs of aging such as brittleness, cracks, and discoloration. If problems are found, they need to be used or replaced as soon as possible to deal with them.
Summarize
Through the above introduction to the correct storage of various types of filament materials, I believe you have a way to avoid water and moisture and prevent filament aging, which can effectively slow down the aging of 3D printing filament and ensure that the print quality is always in the best state.
All PLA+ materials sold by UJOYBIO3D are strictly sealed and stored with desiccant, and labeled with optimal printing temperature, recommended bed temperature, etc. on the top of the package, which is convenient for 3D printing enthusiasts to use and store conveniently, so as to avoid the filament materials being affected by moisture and aging.
