Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is one of the most widely used 3D printing processes on the market due to its ease of use, accessibility and performance. It is known especially for its compatible with a variety of thermoplastics, i.e. materials that are able to soften under the effect of heat but return to their initial shape when they cool down.

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In order to be extruded by the 3D printer, these thermoplastics are transformed into a filament that can then be driven and melted by the extruder. Today, most plastics in the industry can undergo this transformation, thus expanding the field of possibilities. But how do you choose your filament for your 3D printer? What characteristics need to be taken into account? Before moving on to the different filaments that exist in the additive manufacturing market, it is important to understand how plastics are classified, a crucial first step that will help you to better understands the materials available and their characteristics. Today, there are so-called amorphous or semi-crystalline plastics: these adjectives define the intermolecular structure of the polymer, based on how they react when they solidify following a fusion. Specifically, the chains of amorphous plastics will become entangled and […]

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