Glass fiber filament

Glass fiber filament

Glass fiber filaments are among the most performant materials for FDM 3D printers. Adding glass fiber to filaments such as nylon or polypropylene significantly enhances their mechanical and thermal properties, making them suitable for technical and industrial applications.

Why choose a glass fiber filament?

Glass fiber filaments offer exceptional rigidity and superior bend resistance. These materials are particularly effective for improving impact resistance, sometimes outperforming carbon fiber reinforced filaments in this area. By adding glass fiber to matrices such as nylon (PA) or polypropylene (PP), their strength and rigidity are greatly enhanced.

The glass fiber load, whether in short fibers or spheres, creates a reinforced frame that ensures a stable and reliable print, free from shrinkage or adhesion issues commonly found with these materials.

The advantages of glass fiber filaments

In addition to their mechanical strength, glass fiber filaments are highly durable and resistant to high temperatures. They are ideal for functional parts or prototypes requiring strength and longevity. However, their use can cause increased abrasion on the extrusion system. It is therefore recommended to use a steel or ruby reinforced nozzle and replace Bowden tubes more frequently.

Which glass fiber filament to choose?

The choice of glass fiber filament depends on your application. Polymaker, with its Fiberon filament range, and BASF offer filament lines specifically designed to maximize the performance of glass fiber reinforced materials, ensuring high precision printing and optimal durability.