Last Updated on June 10, 2024 by Alex Houben
3D printing is everywhere these days. It’s in sci-fi movies and 3D models, and it’s even being used to print food. In the past few years, demand for 3D printing has gone through the roof, which means that there’s a huge need for different filaments and other materials. The two most popular filaments are PETG and ABS.
PETG and ABS are two common plastics used in 3D printing. They are both thermoplastics, which means they can be melted and re-solidified. However, they are made of different materials, which results in different properties. These properties affect how easy they are to work with, how they perform, and their environmental impact.
Here’s a head-to-head comparison of the two most popular 3D printing filaments: PETG and ABS. We’ll look at their properties, advantages, and disadvantages, so you can decide which one is best for you.
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What are PETG and ABS Filaments?
Table of Contents
The world of 3D printing and its associated materials is quite large. Right from the simplest ones to complex and durable 3D prints, there are a lot of options that one can access without any issues. When we talk about filaments for 3D printers, there are very two names that come to one’s mind immediately.
Any guesses?
Well, these are PETG Vs ABS filaments.
Polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG) and acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) are two common thermoplastic polymers used in 3D printing. These materials have distinct physical and chemical properties that affect their performance, ease of use, and environmental impact.
ABS is one of the most popular materials for FDM 3D printing. It’s a plastic that you see all the time in everyday objects, like injection-molded parts, airplane seats, and LEGO bricks. ABS is a thermoplastic polymer made from three monomers: acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene. It’s a tough, rigid plastic that can take a lot of punishment and is pretty heat resistant.
A remarkable level of strength and ease of use is provided by PETG filaments, also known as copolyesters. A wide range of combinations and blends featuring these materials enable tailored solutions to meet the specific requirements of each application.
What is PETG?
PETG filament is one of the most popular forms of 3D printing filaments. These are transparent thermoplastic filaments that have succeeded in gaining the heavy attention of a wide range of 3D printing enthusiasts. This kind of filament option is majorly famous for its incredible flexibility. Our PETG filaments are manufactured using the chemical CHDM, otherwise known as Cyclohexane Dimethanol. This unique copolymerized creation provides us with a reliable and versatile filament that we call “copolyester”.
PETG filament is a well-known material in the world of 3D printing. It’s a see-through thermoplastic filament with a low melting point, which makes it a great choice for both beginners and seasoned 3D printing enthusiasts. PETG filament is known for its ability to fuse layers seamlessly, resulting in a final product with exceptional strength. What’s more, it’s resistant to chemicals and UV radiation, making it an excellent option for outdoor applications.
What is ABS?
Making use of petroleum and hydrocarbon monomers, ABS has quickly become a favored 3D printing filament. It is a yellow color filament that is quite easy to process and ensures users have smooth access throughout. ABS plastics have been a common choice among manufacturers for the past 80 years – finding their way into countless items spanning from slinky toys and computer keyboards to protective sports helmets. While 3D printing may still be out of reach for many, this versatile material is nevertheless available in the market today.
Also See: PETG Vs PLA Filaments
Comparison between PETG and ABS
It is regardless of which one is better and how unless we go through the different details very carefully. We are here leading up a detailed head-on-head comparison for both of the filament options that will make it easier for you to decide which one suits you and why.
Applications
The versatility of PETG and ABS filaments has made them a popular choice for many applications. From creating signs, holders, and fixtures to orthotic devices to the iconic LEGO bricks – there is no limit as to what projects people can make with these materials. Even protective gear like helmets is a suitable choice when working with ABS filament!
PETG filaments offer a unique advantage in sterilization capabilities, making them an ideal choice for medical and pharmaceutical uses. They are not only optimal for use with implants, but their food-safe qualities make them ideal for creating plastic containers tailored to edibles and beverages.
ABS filament is the material of choice for creating strong and resilient parts, as its durability allows it to be incredibly heat resistant. Perfect for when you need a reliable result!
Sensitivity towards Wrapping
ABS is supposed to be more sensitive toward wrapping than PETG filaments. The melting point for ABS is quite higher than that of the PETG filaments. ABS filament can easily bear a temperature of about 100 degrees Celsius. It is an extruded plastic that can solidify fast and hence can be warped up quite easily.
Temperature Management
The temperature management for the ABS filament is a bit more tricky than that of the PETG filaments. If you are planning to work with ABS filaments by yourself, you need to be a professional and should need to have experience in handling it perfectly.
The temperature controls for ABS filaments for 3D printing are a bit harder to control. One needs to take on the heat bed for higher temperatures for ABS filaments whereas if we talk about PETG filaments you can get a random print without heating the bed. PETG can work efficiently with a heated bed at 70 degrees Celsius but if we talk about the ABS filaments, you have to raise the temperature of the heated bed to about 100 degrees Celsius.
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Odor
PETG filaments are supposed to be quite safer and more convenient than ABS filaments for 3D printing. The best thing about PETG filaments is that it does not produce any odor during the 3D printing process. The degree of particle emission and volatile organic compounds is quite low and that makes it quite safer in terms of health.
Whereas if we talk about ABS, it not only produces a lot of odor during 3D printing but also emits a high amount of heavy particles and volatile organic compounds. Consistent ABS filaments can lead a 3D printing enthusiast to different health hazards in the future.
Post Processing
Post-processing tasks are a bit easier in ABS filaments. The best thing about the ABS filament is that one doesn’t need to spend effort and money on painting and gluing on this material. One can easily start using it even outdoors just after its construction.
Whereas if we talk about the PETG filaments, you may need to use acrylic paint to improve durability sometimes. Both PETG and ABS filaments can be easily used in a wide range of metalworking tasks without any issues.
Hygroscopicity
If we talk about hygroscopicity, PETG is more hygroscopic than ABS filaments. It can absorb moisture from the surroundings efficiently. If you are using PETG filaments for 3D prints, you need to be very careful while handling and storing them. The moisture involved can easily deteriorate the material itself and hence ruin it badly. Therefore one needs to store it safely in a place away from high humidity. Whereas if we talk about the ABS filaments, it is much easier to store.
UV Resistance
PETG filaments enable 3D prints that are remarkably more resilient to prolonged exposure to the sun compared to those made from ABS filaments, boasting complete UV resistance. PETG filaments help in producing less rigid and highly flexible materials.
Strength
From durable machine guards to bike helmets and refrigerators, PETG and ABS filaments come together to provide makers with a range of project possibilities. With PETG being suitable for highly impactful applications like medical tools as well as food containers, its counterpart ABS boasts an array of uses from pipes and transportation structures such as bicycle shells down to white goods in the kitchen. If we compare the overall strength of both, PETG would win the battle. Do you know what is the reason behind it? Well, it is the better layer adhesion involved in PETG. The PETG filaments are a bit sticky and that provides a better adhesion layer than that of the ABS filaments.
Ecofriendliness
PETG is supposed to be more eco-friendly than ABS filaments. The PETG filaments are not only sustainable but are biodegradable and fully recyclable as well. One can easily reuse PETG filaments without any issues. Whereas if we talk about the ABS filaments, they include petroleum oil and hence are non-biodegradable and renewable. If you are a 3D enthusiast but are looking forward to an eco-friendly, strong, and durable 3D filament option we would recommend you choose the PETG filaments only.
Temperature Resistance
With its food-grade product capabilities, PETG filaments are increasingly utilized in a variety of industries. However, ABS may provide higher temperature resistance than that of the popular proxy material. The PETG filaments can survive the heat of about 80 degrees Celsius the ABS filaments can easily withstand the heat of about 100 degrees Celsius. ABS and PETG filaments provide a conveniently versatile solution for electrical appliance applications, with effortless usability.
Pricing
If we talk about its pricing and its availability, ABS is a much cheaper option. The best thing about the ABS filaments is that they are available in both spools and pellet formats. One can easily purchase ABS filaments ranging from $14 to $60 per KG.
Whereas if we talk about PETG filaments they are much more costly than that ABS filaments. The PETG filaments are usually transparent or come up in solid colors. One can easily get a wide range of PETG filament options ranging from basic to premium qualities.
Clogging and Jamming issue
The transition of filament from liquid to solid can sometimes lead to 3D printing failures, such as jamming and clogging. These issues are unfortunately not rare occurrences in the world of additive manufacturing.
The temperature required for taking 3D prints with PETG filaments is a bit lesser than that of the ABS filaments and hence the chances of jamming and clogging are also a bit higher in these filament options.
Which one is Better: PETG or ABS Filaments?
Both PETG and ABS filaments are one of the most popular filament options for 3D printing. Both are durable and are commonly used in a wide range of applications. Despite having so many similarities, there are still certain things that create a lot of differences between the two. Right from their construction to melting points and access, we have gone through a wide range of factors so that we could provide you an honest answer to the query, which one is the better option for you and why.
The Winner of the Competition PETG vs ABS is PETG. The PETG filament is not only a stronger and more durable option than the ABS filament but also tends to provide much better 3D prints. The best thing about PETG filaments is that they are available in transparent and solid colors. Although ABS provides superior temperature resistance to PETG, the 3D printing process is not without its challenges. Issues can still arise when using this filament should due diligence in preparation and monitoring be neglected or absent. PETG is a little expensive but is also safer for both us and the environment. One doesn’t need to worry about issues like shrinking, warping, and unpleasant odors while working with PETG filaments.