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3D Printing Materials and applications

Additive Plus Education

3D printing materials — and where they’re used.

A practical guide to the materials additive manufacturing uses — polymers, photopolymer resins, metals, ceramics and composites — and the applications each one unlocks.

Which materials are common in AM
How AM helps across applications
Polymers, resins, metals, ceramics
Real industrial part examples
Talk to a materials expert → Jump to materials
Close-up of a 3D-printed thermoplastic part with an internal lattice structure SLS nylon 3D-printed intake manifold with multiple ports SLS nylon 3D-printed structural housing 3D-printed lattice impeller
Overview

One technology, many materials.

As covered in our Introduction to 3D Printing, additive manufacturing builds objects layer by layer from digital designs. Across those techniques, AM works with a wide range of materials — each with its own properties and best-fit applications. The industry offers one or more processes for most commonly used polymers, photopolymer resins, ceramics and metals.

Polymers Photopolymer resins Metals Ceramics Composites
Materials

Polymers

The most widely used family in 3D printing — from everyday prototyping thermoplastics to high-performance superpolymers.

Pyramid graphic ranking common thermoplastic 3D printing materials by performance
Pyramid of common thermoplastic materials. Image credit: Mashallah Rezakazemi, et al.

ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)

Known for its strength, flexibility and durability. Commonly used in prototyping and end-use parts for fast 3D printing.

PLA (Polylactic Acid)

Industrially biodegradable and derived from renewable resources like cornstarch or sugarcane. Used for prototypes, hobbyist projects and consumer products — a great, affordable option for easy 3D printing.

PET / PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol)

Combines the strength and durability of ABS with the ease of printing of PLA. Used in mechanical parts and food-safe applications.

PP (Polypropylene)

A thermoplastic known for toughness, flexibility and chemical resistance. Low density makes it lightweight, with good fatigue resistance — used for functional prototypes, automotive components, flexible hinges and containers.

TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)

A flexible, elastic elastomer with excellent abrasion resistance and durability, formulated across a range of hardness. Widely used where flexibility and impact resistance matter — footwear, sports equipment, phone cases and seals/gaskets. In AM it is valued for flexible, resilient parts: prototypes, gaskets, protective covers and medical devices.

Flexible TPU 3D-printed shoe sole produced on a Farsoon FS1092A
FS1092A-TPU flexible shoe sole. Image credit: Farsoon Technologies.

PA (Polyamide / Nylon)

Polyamide grades (PA6, PA6-66, PA11, PA12) are heavily used in 3D printing for their mechanical properties and versatility — high strength, impact resistance and flexibility across automotive, consumer and aerospace parts. Their chemical resistance and low friction suit gears, bearings and structural components. PA is often reinforced with carbon or glass fibre to create composites with even higher strength and stiffness, making it a cornerstone of additive manufacturing for robust, functional parts.

Superpolymers (PEEK, PEKK, ULTEM, PEI)

Superpolymers such as PEEK (Polyetheretherketone), ULTEM (Polyetherimide) and PPSU (Polyphenylsulfone) are transforming additive manufacturing. PEEK is prized for exceptional mechanical properties and biocompatibility — medical implants, aerospace components and industrial machinery. ULTEM’s strength-to-weight ratio, flame resistance and electrical insulation make it essential for aircraft interiors, automotive components and electronic housings. PPSU’s toughness, chemical resistance and autoclave sterilisability suit medical devices and food-processing equipment. PEKK is emerging as a PEEK alternative with similar properties and better printability.

PEEK 3D-printed medical implants
PEEK 3D-printed implants. Image credit: OSTEOFAB.

Browse our filament & polymer materials →

Materials

Photopolymer resins

Photopolymer resins are liquid polymers that cure — harden — when exposed to UV light, building parts layer by layer. They power the vat-photopolymerisation processes: SLA (a laser traces each layer), DLP (a projector flashes a whole layer at once) and LCD / MSLA (an LCD mask over a UV array). Because they cure at very fine resolution, resins deliver the smoothest surfaces and the sharpest detail in additive manufacturing — ideal for intricate, small and cosmetic parts.

The trade-off: mechanical properties vary widely by formulation, printed parts need washing and UV post-curing, and some resins keep reacting to sunlight over time. Choosing the right resin for the job is everything — which is why the resin world is really a family of specialised chemistries:

Standard / general-purpose

High-detail resins for visual prototypes, models and concept parts where surface finish matters more than strength.

Tough & ABS-like

Replicate the strength, durability and impact resistance of ABS plastic for functional prototypes, enclosures and consumer products that must survive handling.

Durable & polyurethane-like

Lower-friction, wear-resistant resins with some flex — good for snap-fits, living hinges and moving assemblies.

High-temperature

Heat-deflection-resistant resins for thermal testing, tooling, moulds and fixtures that see elevated temperatures.

Flexible, elastomeric & rubber-like

Soft, stretchable resins across a range of shore hardness — gaskets, seals, wearables, grips and footwear midsoles.

Castable & wax

Burn out cleanly in investment casting, leaving no ash — the backbone of 3D-printed jewellery and precision metal-casting patterns for aerospace and automotive.

Dental & medical

Biocompatible formulations for dental models, surgical guides, splints, denture bases and hearing-aid shells, where certification and reliability are essential.

Ceramic-filled

Resins loaded with ceramic particles for stiff, heat-resistant parts that bridge toward technical-ceramic performance.

Batch of flexible 3D-printed shoe midsoles produced with photopolymer resin
High-precision resin 3D printing — a batch of flexible midsoles.

Explore our own Additive Plus resin line and the full resin & DLP materials catalogue →

Materials

Metals

Where additive manufacturing meets production-grade performance — from stainless steel to titanium and aluminium alloys.

Stainless steel

316L stainless is widely used for its corrosion resistance and biocompatibility — surgical instruments and marine components. Strength, durability and wear resistance make stainless a top choice across aerospace, automotive and medical, with a wide range of grades for tailored properties. Its longevity justifies the initial cost, needing minimal maintenance, and post-processing further enhances properties and appearance.

Engineering brackets 3D-printed in stainless steel
Engineering brackets printed in stainless steel. Image credit: Farsoon.

Titanium

Known for a high strength-to-weight ratio and biocompatibility — common in aerospace and medical implants. Consumer electronics is increasingly adopting Titanium Ti64 3D printing for its combination of high strength, ultra-low weight and striking aesthetics. Ti64 offers greater durability than stainless while staying feather-light — ideal for portable devices — and its properties suit intricate, sleek designs from smartphones to wearables.

Titanium metal 3D printing adopted for next-generation consumer electronics devices
Apple and Honor to use metal 3D printing for next-gen devices. Image credit: Voxelmatters.com.

Aluminium

Lightweight and corrosion-resistant — used in aerospace, automotive and consumer goods. Alloys such as AlSi10Mg and AlSi7Mg are increasingly favoured for their light weight, strength and thermal conductivity. AlSi10Mg is renowned for versatility across aerospace, automotive and electronics where weight reduction and structural integrity matter, with good corrosion resistance and intricate geometries. AlSi7Mg is valued for high strength and excellent machinability. Both process easily and affordably, enabling high-performance parts with shorter lead times.

In-line tube-and-shell aluminium heat exchanger 3D-printed on a Farsoon FS421M
In-line tube-shell aluminium heat exchanger / FS421M. Image credit: Farsoon.

Explore our metal powders for LPBF, DED & EBM →

Materials

Ceramics

A breakthrough for intricate, high-detail technical ceramics. With SLA, materials like Zirconia, Zirconia 8Y, Alumina, Hydroxyapatite, Tricalcium Phosphate (TCP), Aluminium Nitride and Silicon Nitride can be precisely fabricated — offering high strength, thermal resistance and biocompatibility. FDM extends the range to dark ceramics such as Silicon Carbide and ferrite, opening applications across aerospace, healthcare and electronics where complex geometry and material performance are paramount.

Hydroxyapatite (HAP) and Tricalcium Phosphate (TCP) are key biomedical materials for absorbable implants that support tissue growth. These biocompatible ceramics mimic natural bone composition, promoting integration with surrounding tissue and encouraging new bone formation — improving patient outcomes in bone-regeneration applications.

3D-printed ceramic spinal cage implant examples
3D-printed spinal cage examples. Image credit: 3DCeram Sinto.

See our full range of ceramic systems and 3DMIX pastes on the 3DCeram ceramics page.

Materials

Composites (continuous & chopped fibre)

Continuous-fibre composite printing reshapes AM by increasing part anisotropy. Carbon-Fibre and Glass-Fibre Reinforced Polymers are most often paired with Polyamide (Nylon), with advanced superpolymers like ULTEM (PEI) and PEEK used for demanding applications. The result: enhanced strength, durability and thermal stability for aerospace, automotive and medical.

Whether optimising for lightweight structures or high-performance components, continuous-fibre printing plus a spectrum of polymer options lets engineers innovate broadly. Makers of continuous carbon-fibre printers often compare prints to 6061 aluminium, claiming a 50% higher strength-to-weight ratio in flexure and up to 300% higher in tensile moment. Continuous reinforcement is used for conformal jigs, fixtures and specialty tooling for major global businesses, and for one-off end-use parts in high-end motorsport.

Continuous carbon-fibre reinforced composite 3D printing
Continuous carbon-fibre 3D printing. Image credit: Schunk Carbon Tech / Anisoprint.

See our composite tooling & materials →

Curious about 3D printing materials? Let’s talk.

Reach out for an insightful conversation about 3D printing materials and their applications in education and industry — and watch for our upcoming webinars.

Talk to a materials expert → [email protected]

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