The 3D Filament Tier List! Which Should YOU Use?

Filament Links (most give me affiliate bucks)
PA-12 Nylon: Fillamentum Fishy Filament (not on the market yet)

Timetable!
00:00-2:54 Intro
2:54-4:00 Regular PLA
4:00-4:46 Silk PLA
4:46-5:45 Carbon Fiber PLA
5:45-6:26 Metal-Filled PLA
6:26-7:34 Wood PLA
7:34-8:10 “Tough” PLA
8:10-8:45 Matte PLA
8:45-9:33 High-Speed PLA
9:33-10:31 “Flex PLA” PCL
10:31-11:18 PETG
11:18-11:50 Carbon Fiber PETG
11:50-12:41 PCTG
12:41-13:35 PET
13:35-14:05 CF PET
14:05-14:44 PVB
14:44-15:40 ABS
15:40-16:22 ASA
16:22-17:02 HIPS
17:02-18:16 PA-6 Nylon
18:16-18:50 PA-12 Nylon
18:50-19:32 CF Nylon
19:32-20:37 Glass-Filled Nylon
20:37-21:08 Nylon/PETG Alloys
21:08-21:53 Polycarbonate
21:53-22:35 PC Carbon Fiber
22:35-23:36 PMMA (acrylic)
23:36-24:15 PC-PBT
24:15-24:56 ??? A SECRET ???
24:56-27:00 TPU
27:00-27:26 TPE
27:26-28:17 SEBS
28:17-29:04 Polypropylene
29:04-29:43 GF-PP
29:43-30:16 OBC
30:16-30:58 HDPE
30:58-31:56 POM
31:56-33:06 PVDF
33:06-35:01 PEEK
35:01-35:38 PEKK
35:38-36:19 PPS
36:19-36:58 PSU
36:58-37:21 PES and PPSU
37:21-37:46 CF-PEEK
37:46-39:38 Ultem
39:38-40:39 TPI
40:39-44:33 Thanks!

Credits:
LEMONS?! - Will Sasso
Ocean cleanup footage - The Ocean Cleanup
Interference SFX - Partners in Rhyme

*Please don't actually do this

[GioEarthling]

*S Tier Filaments*
4:46 Carbon Fiber PLA
7:34 “Tough” (PBT) PLA
8:55 High-Speed PLA
11:18 Carbon Fiber PETG
11:50 PCTG _(close to perfect, top of s tier)_
19:32 Glass-Filled Nylon
25:35 TPU _(~99D)_

[nddragoon]

glass-filled PP is a truly horrifying name

[Wise_King_Solomon]

Chemist here to answer your chemistry questions:

Halogenated hydrocarbons are molecules made of carbon with attached hydrogens that have some atoms of a halogen (flourine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine) attached where a hydrogen normally would be. There's a lot of these, but some examples are chloroform and some other lab/industrial solvents (which would likely dissolve or attack other filaments), some pesticides, the molecule PTFE aka Teflon (funny enough, related to the filament at hand) and a lot of other things.

Inorganic acids are a lot simpler. They are simply the acids that are NOT made of carbon. Examples include hydrochloric acid, sulfiric acid and nitric acid. Common acids that do not fit in this group are acetic acid (vinegar) and citric acid.

Also, as a side note, please don't test this. Sticking random polymers in random acids is an easy way to get chemical (or physical!) burns or otherwise damage yourself or your property. Even if it says it is "resistant" or whatever, that doesnt mean it wont react, dissolve or produce toxic, explosive or dangerous compounds. Take it from me, a chemist who has made some dumb mistakes not realizing things reacted and blowing up glassware on accident. Not as fun as it sounds.

[AZREDFERN]

One hidden gem about all acetone sensitive plastics, is spray paint for plastics basically welds to them. The main difference between normal spray paint and one that advertises use with plastic is the extra acetone in the mix. Most consumer products that people want to paint are just injection molded ABS.

[ShadowDrakken]

Need this tier list as a webpage with mouseovers giving the filament name, pros, cons, and baseline print settings :D

[smooshpopper]

40:20 "30% too hot to bake cookies" is a really good way to put the crazy temperatures into perspective

[Nickidemic]

S: CFPLA, "Tough" PLA, High-Speed PLA, CFPTG, PCTG, Glass-Filled Nylon
A: PLA, PETG, CFPET, ASA, PC Carbon Fiber, PC-PBT, SEBS, PEKK, Ultem

[superduked]

For anyone else searching for "99D TPU", you're not gonna find it. I couldn't and I tried pretty hard. Some here suggest Zack mistakenly wrote "99D" but really meant "95A" - because he links to that in his description. However I have used 95A and it is not rigid like Zack describes in this video. It's actually still quite flexible. If you want a TPU that fits Zack's description better, try 98A TPU, which is indeed MUCH more rigid than 95A. Shore hardness must be rated on an exponential scale because the difference between 95A and 98A is surprising. It is relatively easy to print, does not bend up and clog like 95A. Both Ranki and Priline make 98A TPU, both can be found on Amazon in a variety of colors. I have found Priline's 98A TPU to be more dimensionally accurate than Ranki's 98A TPU. The prints look really nice. The finish of the Priline black and orange (only two colors I have used) is flat, very little sheen. The finish of the Ranki has slightly more sheen. Hope this helps.

[zach]

That tier platform is a genius idea, does it come in gridfinity?

[Sachaztan]

Obscure PETG advantage: it handles cryogenic temperature well. Now I understand most people don't have a need to store things in -80C, but PETG containers can. I have yet to test -150 and -196.

[alexlee]

PVDF is resistant to haloganated hydrocarbons because it is one itself, i.e. it's a fluoroganated hydrocarbon and fluoride make some of the strongest bonds in organic chemistry, which is why it's also resistant to inorganic acids, it simply just doesn't react with anything.

[fokkre]

"Prusha and BambuLabs the two genders" -- VoidStarLab Hahahahah I am stealing this!

[xion]

I don't remotely know how to even begin 3D printing, but I've watched every single one of these filament videos so far because I love the way Zack presents everything

[Tubbytube]

I need the grass filament so i no longer need to go outside.

[Jamimation_]

This man has Single handelt helped me chill out and be exited after having 3 tests in 1 day. Legend. Subbed.

[daniilbash]

Leaving a comment about PVDF as a chemist - indeed it's indestructible! It can withstand paint stripper (halogenated organic solvent) and concentrated battery acid (inorganic acid)! Warps like hell, has poor bed adhesion (I was only able to print it with Vision Miner's Nano Polymer Adhesive on the print bed), but if you find a way around warping - it's actually quite pleasant to print

[cubcrafts]

The best days involve new Zack Freedman videos <3

[stew]

I'm annoyed about having iron filled composite in F-tier, if only because that particular blend is awesome for prototyping things that require magnetic properties, like brushless DC motor components and so on. For all the other metal-filled composites, I agree that painting will largely give the same effect, but when you don't have a CNC mill, and want a part with "some" of the properties of iron, then an iron composite filament absolutely serves a very legitimate purpose. Oh, and its surface finish is about on par with PLA-CF, just IMO.

[hillno]

Amazing video! I definitely need to go back and watch it again while taking notes of the next filaments to try out. Thanks for all the leg work!

[heinrichbosch]

A local manufacturer in South Africa has some really interesting filaments that I haven't seen or heard of anywhere else. Like SBS (Styrene-butadiene-styrene) which not hydroscopic, slightly flexible and slightly translucent that looks very nice when printed in vase mode. TPR(thermoplastic rubber) which also isn't hydroscopic with a shores hardness of 90. ABS-X, ABS but easier to print on an open printer ("all the benefits of ABS but without the hassles"). Lastly PLA Wayless which describes it's self, light weight PLA perfect for RC and drone parts.

Always enjoy your video!!