All About Nylon 3D Printing Filament： Materials, Properties, Definition

Nylon 3D printing filament is a popular material due to its excellent toughness, abrasion resistance, and impact resistance. Therefore, it is ideal for use in hard-wearing applications like gears, fasteners, and cable ties. Nylons have excellent resistance to alkalis and organic chemicals like oils and fuels but are degraded by halogens and inorganic acids. For more information, see our everything about 3D printing guide.

A typical nylon part is shown in Figure 1 below:

Nylons are a family of semicrystalline thermoplastic polyamides with similar compositions. Nylon is generally synthesized through a process known as condensation polymerization. During this process, two different monomeric starting materials, a diamine, and a diacid are reacted together to form the polymer and a byproduct molecule such as water or HCl. For example, Nylon 66 is made by condensation reaction from two common raw materials, hexamethylenediamine, and adipic acid. An alternative processing method, called ring-opening polymerization, uses caprolactam as a feedstock to produce Nylon 6.

Nylon is often combined with carbon and glass fibers to improve its mechanical and thermal properties. Up to 25% of the filament volume can be one of these fillers.

Listed below are some common properties of nylon 3D printing filament:

1. Nylon has excellent flexibility & toughness and can be used in applications that are exposed to harsh loading conditions.
2. Nylon has good abrasion resistance and is often used for pulley sheaves.
3. Nylon has excellent resistance to oils, fuel, and organic solvents.
4. Nylon has excellent impact resistance when compared to common engineering plastics like ABS.

For more information, see our guide on what is nylon.

Printing with nylon has some downsides, as listed below:

1. Nylon tends to warp during printing and can detach from the print bed.
2. Nylon easily absorbs moisture both before and after printing. Moisture absorption by the filament material often results in defects in the printed part.
3. Nylon is not as strong as other printable materials such as PETG and ABS.

Some of the benefits of nylon 3D printing filament are listed below:

1. Nylon has excellent abrasion resistance and is ideal for pulley sheaves and gears.
2. Nylon has excellent impact resistance compared to other engineering thermoplastics like PETG or ABS.
3. Nylon is more UV resistant than PLA or ABS and can be used in dry outdoor environments. Its UV resistance can be further improved by adding UV stabilizers to the raw material.

Why is Nylon Used in 3D Printing?

Nylon is used in 3D printing due to its toughness, chemical resistance, and abrasion resistance. It is a difficult material to work with but can be used to print functional parts. Nylon carbon fiber filament is a popular material that is made by mixing short carbon fiber strands into nylon before extruding it into a filament. These fibers stabilize the material, preventing warping during printing, increasing mechanical strength, and improving thermal properties.

How to Use Nylon in 3D Printing

Nylon 3D printing filament is difficult to print due to its tendency to warp and absorb moisture. However, if the correct printer settings are used there is no reason why excellent results can’t be achieved. Listed below are some tips for successfully printing nylon:

1. Nylon easily absorbs moisture. This property can have a detrimental effect on the printed part due to porosity caused by expanding bubbles of boiling water as the moisture cooks off. It is therefore important to store filament material in an airtight container. Some containers can even store the filament during printing which is especially useful for long-duration prints.
2. Nylon will warp during printing if the print environment is not maintained at around 45 °C.

The above-listed tips for 3D printing with nylon are generally applicable to all nylon plastics. However, carbon fiber nylon filament and glass-filled nylon filament do not warp as easily.

The specific printer settings required when using nylon 3D printing filament depend on the specific nylon polymer formulation. However, Table 2 below lists some key printer settings for nylon filament:

The optimal wall thickness for 3D printing of nylon depends on the end use of the part being printed. However, in general, a wall thickness of 1.5 mm will be ideal for most applications.

What is a Good Wall Density for 3D Printing Nylon?

The optimal infill density for a nonfunctional prototype nylon 3D printed part is 20%. However, this density must be adjusted depending on the intended application. Load-bearing applications may require between 50 and 80% infill density. The standard triangle-type infill will be sufficient for the majority of applications.

No, like most other commodities and engineering-grade thermoplastics, nylon is not biodegradable.

Yes, nylon is recyclable in industrial recycling facilities. Nylon 6 is more recyclable than nylon 66 as it is made from a single molecule. It can be easily polymerized, whereas nylon 6,6 is made from two molecules which makes it very difficult to separate.

Yes, nylon is hygroscopic and readily absorbs moisture. It is therefore recommended to keep nylon filament material in a moisture-free enclosure.

What is the Difference Between Nylon and PLA in 3D Printing?

PLA is a rigid and brittle material that has poor fatigue resistance. Nylon, on the other hand, is tougher, more flexible, and has better fatigue resistance under cyclic loading.

What is the Difference Between Nylon and ABS in 3D Printing?

Like nylon, ABS is a difficult material to print. However, it is easier to use than nylon. ABS also has better tensile strength. However, Nylon is significantly more impact resistant than ABS.

What is the Difference Between Nylon and PETG in 3D Printing?

PETG is not as impact resistant as nylon> However, it is much easier to print with and is  cheaper than Nylon.

This article presented nylon 3D printing filament, explained what it is, and discussed what to consider when using it in 3D printing. To learn more about nylon 3D printing filament, contact a Xometry representative.

Xometry provides a wide range of manufacturing capabilities, including 3D printing and other value-added services for all of your prototyping and production needs. Visit our website to learn more or to request a free, no-obligation quote.

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