Carbon Fiber Materials: From "Beginner" to "Pro" – eSUN Guides You to Choose Right and Avoid Pitfalls
With the expansion of professional applications for 3D printing technology, the limitations of single polymer materials in terms of strength, dimensional stability, and heat resistance have become increasingly apparent. To meet the demands of actual working conditions, carbon fiber-reinforced composites have emerged as one of the most representative high-performance materials for FDM 3D printing.
Why Are Carbon Fiber Reinforced Materials So "Strong"?
Carbon Fiber (CF) is characterized by its high specific strength, high specific modulus, and low coefficient of thermal expansion. Introducing chopped carbon fibers into a thermoplastic matrix (such as PA, PETG, PEEK, etc.) offers the following advantages:
Enhanced Strength and Stiffness: The elastic modulus of carbon fiber is far higher than that of common polymers, thus significantly increasing the flexural modulus of the composite material. Furthermore, when the material is subjected to bending stress, the carbon fibers, which have higher bending strength, become the primary load-bearing elements, effectively hindering crack propagation and preventing material fracture.
Improved Heat Resistance & Reduced Warping: Carbon fiber has relatively high thermal conductivity and can suppress the thermal expansion of the polymer, thereby effectively reducing shrinkage and warping during the printing process. After adding carbon fiber, the heat deflection temperature (HDT) of the composite material increases to varying degrees, with a particularly significant improvement observed in crystalline materials (e.g., PET, PA).
eSUN Carbon Fiber Series Material Selection Guide
When selecting a 3D printing material, we typically need to consider two core dimensions: Printability and Mechanical Performance. Printability directly affects the surface quality of the printed part, warping control, and print success rate. Mechanical performance is key to determining whether the material can be used in functional applications.
From a Print Difficulty Perspective:
Materials like PLA-CF, PETG-CF, and ABS-CF are relatively easy to print, while Nylon-based carbon fiber materials have a steeper learning curve.
From a Performance Characteristic Perspective:
PET-CF offers the highest strength, excellent chemical resistance, and a high heat deflection temperature after annealing, making it suitable for high-strength applications in high-temperature and high-humidity environments!
PA-CF possesses outstanding strength, impact resistance, heat resistance, and chemical resistance. However, nylon materials are hygroscopic. Therefore, it is more suitable for high-temperature, high-durability environments, such as engine components, fuel line parts, connectors, gears, and bearings.
PA12+CF, while not the strongest material mechanically, stands out as a versatile "all-rounder" by balancing strength, toughness, and stability. It also excels in impact resistance, lightweight properties, and low moisture absorption, making it highly favored in fields like drones, aerospace, and sports equipment.
eSUN Carbon Fiber Series: Classification & Introduction
Adding carbon fiber to different base materials results in significant variations in performance enhancement. Based on their characteristics and application scenarios, we categorize the eSUN carbon fiber series 3D printing materials into Entry-Level and Professional-Level classes.
Entry-Level Carbon Fiber Reinforced 3D Printing Materials
PLA and PETG are common consumer-grade 3D printing materials. Adding a small amount of carbon fiber can enhance the strength and rigidity of PLA and PETG, making them more suitable for printing tools, functional product prototypes, and structural parts or components that require high stiffness. Unlike professional-grade carbon fiber materials, PLA-CF and PETG-CF are easier to print and come in a wider variety of colors to meet diverse user needs.
Leveraging PETG's weather resistance characteristics, PETG-CF has broader applicability and can be used outdoors or in humid environments.
Professional-Level Carbon Fiber Reinforced 3D Printing Materials
In addition to common PLA and PETG, eSUN offers a series of carbon fiber reinforced 3D printing materials including PET-CF, ABS-CF, PA-CF, and PA12+CF.
ABS-CF: ABS is a common engineering plastic. After adding carbon fiber, ABS-CF becomes stronger, more heat-resistant, and less prone to deformation. ABS-CF is also lightweight; printed parts using ABS-CF weigh 13% less than PLA-CF parts and 25% less than PET-CF parts for the same model. Those struggling with printing need not worry – the carbon fiber significantly improves the material's warping resistance and dimensional accuracy.
PET-CF: PET is widely used in plastic bottles, automotive parts, etc., due to its high mechanical properties, good temperature resistance, and chemical resistance. Adding carbon fiber significantly enhances its mechanical properties. Currently, PET-CF is the material with the highest strength and stiffness in eSUN's carbon fiber composite system. Additionally, based on the PET substrate properties, PET-CF also features low moisture absorption. In terms of printability, while it has a certain learning curve, it offers high printing precision. In summary, PET-CF is suitable for harsh high-temperature and high-humidity environments, offering a combination of heat resistance, moisture vapor resistance, and structural stability. Specific applications include high-temperature pipes and connectors, equipment resistant to high temperatures and water vapor, high-temperature jigs, and automotive engine components.
Friendly reminder: To achieve optimal heat resistance, annealing the printed model is recommended.
PA-CF & PA12+CF: Both PA-CF and PA12+CF are carbon fiber reinforced materials developed using nylon as the base substrate. They combine high strength with high-temperature resistance, and possess excellent self-lubrication, fatigue resistance, and impact resistance. Simultaneously, due to the addition of carbon fiber, they both exhibit excellent dimensional stability and anti-warping properties, meeting the demands of applications in machinery, automotive, and other fields that require high part strength and durability.
In terms of differences: PA-CF uses general-purpose nylon as its base, offering greater rigidity and heat resistance. PA12+CF uses Nylon 12 as its base, resulting in lower water absorption, better dimensional stability, and stronger weather resistance. PA-CF is more suitable for mechanical parts requiring high strength and heat resistance; PA12+CF performs better in terms of lightweight properties and environmental adaptability.
eSUN Carbon Fiber Series Printing Considerations
To ensure normal printing and optimal mechanical properties, drying the material before printing is recommended for all carbon fiber materials.
Carbon fiber materials are abrasive. Using a hardened steel nozzle is strongly recommended.
Carbon fiber materials are rigid and prone to breaking. Therefore, it is advised not to make the filament path (bowden tube) too long or have sharp bends. The use of an AMS (Automatic Material System) is not recommended!
