PETG filament is considered among the best options for 3D printing. This blog discusses it in detail and understands its strengths, weaknesses, properties, and uses.
PETG filament is polyethylene terephthalate glycol is a popular filament type used for 3D printing. With other counterparts in the market like PLA and ABS, PETG has won a special place in the preferences of business owners. For several exceptional qualities, it makes 3D printing convenient and speedy. The blog is a guide programmed to provide you with the best information and details about PETG filament.
Table of Contents
How is PETG filament made?
PETG has a long history of its evolution. Regular experiments have been taking place on it since the mid-20th century. Initially, it was not PETG, but only PET. In 1952, PET was used for food packaging, and in 1976 was used to make bottles for soft drinks, mineral water, and beer. But PET was prone to crystallization, and a potential solution was required. Glycol was combined later with polyethylene terephthalate to enhance the qualities of PET which was prone to crystallization. It also improved the heat resistance of the material. Today, PETG is in widespread use for 3D printing.
Properties of PETG filament
The filament is the first choice in many industries because it has several remarkable properties that make 3D printing easy and predictable. Have a look at the significant properties of PETG.
| Properties | Value |
| Temperatures 1) Glass transition 2) Heated bed 3) Nozzle temperature | 1) 85 °C 2) 80 – 100 °C 3) 210 – 250 °C |
| Features 1) Material cost 2) Durability 3) Flexibility 4) Strength | 1) Low 2) High 3) Low 4) High |
| Resistance 1) Chemical resistance 2) Heat resistance 3) water resistance 4) Fatigue resistance | 1) High 2) Medium 3) High 4) High |
Where is it used?
PETG filament has high heat resistance; its melting point is 235 to 250°C. It is considered a versatile 3D printing material and used for creating varied types of daily use and durable products. Many industries find it helpful to produce their products such as food, medical, decorative parts, costumes, etc. You can read a list of things that can be created easily with the filament. Have a look at the varied applications of PETG.
The production process is produced using the melt-phase polycondensation process that completes in two steps. During the production, PETG filament can be sheet extruded as a filament and can be injection molded. It can also be colored during the manufacturing process.
- Electronics
- Food packaging
- Medical braces
- Covers
- Bottles
- Guards
- Glazing
- Graphics and displays
The significant applications of PETG are in the medical and food sector because it is skin and food safe. PETG is widely used in the medical industry because it can resist radiation used during treatments and chemical sterilization. It stays the same without changing color. It is not hygroscopic and has a low warping rate, which makes the filament idol for large prints.
Benefits and Limitations of PETG filament – Two sides of a coin
Every 3D printing material has strengths and weaknesses, and the business owners do deep research. An insight into the benefits and limitations of 3D filament types helps choose the right option for a business.
| PETG Benefits | PETG Limitations |
| Highly transparent and easy to dye PETG can be used to produce products in various colors and translucent prints. With minimal post-processing, it gives a glossy finish. | Unfriendly to the environment, PETG can take decades to decompose. It can release microplastics into the oceans, a big concern for the environmentally deteriorating human world. |
| The filament has chemical resistance to alkali and acidic compounds. This quality makes this material suitable for the electronic, medical, and food sectors. | PETG is prone to oozing as compared to ABS and PLA. It means you need to be very cautious in retraction and bridging settings. Only professionally skilled hands can handle the printing process. |
| Excellent layer adhesion makes PETG filament a perfect raw material for products designed to install on the walls. If there is any wiring inside, it keeps it safe. | If not stored correctly, the filament becomes brittle. It can make parts more brittle and leave the production process incomplete because you need to start again after oozing. |
| PETG is UV resistant and weatherproof. These two are pretty laudable features of a 3D filament in this world of ever-increasing global warming and uncertain weather conditions. | Strict parameters need to be followed on temperature and speed. 210-260ºC temperature for the extruder and 60-80 ºC for the base. A low printing speed of (30 – 35 mm/s) is also vital. Any mistake in the set parameters disturbs the whole process. |
| Impressive warp resistance is another fantastic feature of the filament that keeps the business owners stress-free from any fear of deformity in the product during production. | Compared to PLA (polylactic acid) and ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) it is more challenging to work with PETG. You may have some issues with bed adhesion. The filament sometimes over-adheres to the build plate. It can be chaotic to remove prints from the bed. |
| PETG is recyclable because its polymer chains recover quickly for any future use. Many gas barriers are made from recyclable PETG. Its recycling becomes easier with done with solvents and alcohol. | As PETG needs high temperature, it has a lesser number of compatible printers. To print in the filament, a business must have an expensive infrastructure and atmosphere. Stringing is also a concern for businesses. |
How to prevent sticking of PETG filament to the Nozzle?
The filament is known for its durability but is also notorious due to its nature of sticking to the extruder nozzle. It can affect the functioning of the printing machines obstructing the middle of the printing process. But don’t worry; several simple tips can save you from sticking problems during production.
- Always use the correct printing nozzle
- Dehydrate the filament properly
- Keep the printing process slow
- The fan speed should never be slow
- Keep a reasonable distance between the bed and the Nozzle
What is the safest way to store PETG?
Did you know PETG filament has poor resistance to moisture? Due to this reason, you need extra effort and suitable arrangements to store; otherwise, the filament will absorb humidity from the environment. It breaks down in the water, and wet PETG can be rigid on the nozzle and the extruder. The best situation is to keep the material dry.
An airtight container is the best place to store the filament. Some businesses use filament dry boxes to keep the moisture away and increase shelf life. It is the best solution to keep PETG safe from humidity and prevent issues in the production process.
Conclusion
The best explanation of the capacities of the PETG filament can only be your experience with it. Use the filament for your business purpose, create the products and see the magic yourself. However, reading the above information should help you decide how promising PETG filament is. The more imaginative ways of 3D printing take shape daily, giving birth to innovative printing solutions. Various types of filaments give merchants a wide choice to find and select the best for their products. A noticeable concern about filaments is their environmental friendliness. But a lot of experiments are going on to make the filaments more and more eco-friendly and recyclable. PETG is already known for its capacity to recycle easily; now, it is your turn to choose the filament option that is best for you.