NEW
Welcome to the new eSUN website! • Now in beta. Your feedback helps us make it better.
Feedback →
eSUN Wiki
Wiki Menu
esun wiki Industry Knowledge Material Knowledge FDM Materials for 3D Printing PETG(PET)

PETG(PET)

What is PETG?

PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) is a modified thermoplastic polyester derived from PET with the addition of glycol. It combines the printability of PLA with the durability of ABS, offering high strength, high toughness, and excellent transparency.

PETG is odorless and non-toxic during printing, balancing practicality and aesthetics. It is a popular mid-to-high-end general-purpose material in 3D printing, suitable for most functional and aesthetic printing applications.

Modified Polyester

Derived from PET with glycol modification, it improves crystallinity, transparency, and toughness, distinguishing it from the brittleness and high crystallinity of standard PET.

Balanced Performance

Combines rigidity and toughness, impact-resistant and flexible, overcoming PLA brittleness and ABS warping for versatile applications.

Transparent Finish

Naturally transparent with high gloss, suitable for transparent structural parts and refined aesthetic parts, balancing practicality and aesthetics.

Safe & Eco-Friendly

Non-toxic and odorless. Complies with FDA food contact material standards (21 CFR). Ideal for children's toys, decorative items, and everyday functional prints.

Why PETG for 3D Printing?

01Balanced Performance, Wide Adaptability

Combines rigidity and toughness, impact-resistant and flexible, solving the pain points of PLA brittleness and ABS warping.

02Heat & Chemical Resistance

Heat resistance around 65-75°C, better than PLA; resistant to acids, alkalis, and common solvents for various environments.

03Safe & Eco-friendly

Non-toxic and odorless, FDA food-contact certified, suitable for food-contact and children's toy applications.

04Printing Friendly

Strong interlayer adhesion, low shrinkage, large prints resist deformation; naturally transparent with excellent surface quality.

05Good Weatherability

UV-resistant and aging-resistant, suitable for outdoor applications, with better weatherability than PLA.

06Flexible Processing

Can be sanded, bonded, and polished; easy post-processing for refined aesthetic parts.

eSUN and PETG: Material Innovation

eSUN continues to invest in PETG R&D, driving performance improvements in print appearance and forming stability through modification technology and patented processes, while continuously refining its compliance certification system.

Certifications PETG has obtained REACH, RoHS, EU Food, FDA, and EN-71-3 toy certifications, covering environmental protection, food safety, and children's toy compliance.
PETG Matte — Patent Patent Name: Matte PETG/PCL material for FDM printing and its preparation method
Patent No.: CN120607804A
Core Application: The matte PETG printed by this method has superior print appearance compared to matte PETG from high-filler methods, and also solves the problem of under-extrusion and clogging during printing.

Pros and Cons of PETG

Pros

Strong Comprehensive Performance

Good toughness, impact-resistant, not brittle, combining rigidity and flexibility.

Heat & Aging Resistance

Heat resistance 65-75°C, UV-resistant, better weatherability than PLA.

Safe & Non-toxic

No odor during printing, FDA food-contact certified.

Forming Stability

Strong interlayer adhesion, low warping, high success rate for large and complex prints.

Excellent Texture

Naturally transparent, high gloss, refined appearance for transparent and colored parts.

Chemical Corrosion Resistance

Resistant to acids, alkalis, and common cleaners for various environments.

Cons

Feature Description Impact
High Hygroscopicity Absorbs moisture easily; when damp, prints become brittle with bubbles Requires sealed dry storage
Printing Requirements Requires 230-260°C extrusion, 75-90°C heated bed, controlled cooling Higher equipment and tuning threshold than PLA
Stringing Prone to stringing during printing Requires precise retraction calibration
Long Degradation Cycle Petroleum-based, takes decades to decompose naturally Not an eco-friendly biodegradable material

eSUN PETG-Derived Materials

PETG+

Enhanced modified PETG, further improving toughness and printing stability, suitable for functional structural parts and aesthetic prints.

PETG-Silk

Silk-gloss surface PETG, prints with metallic silk texture, suitable for aesthetic parts and creative products.

PETG-CF

Carbon fiber reinforced PETG, improved rigidity and dimensional stability, suitable for functional structural parts and wear-resistant scenarios.

PETG-ESD

Anti-static PETG, suitable for electronic component packaging and anti-static applications, preventing static damage to sensitive devices.

Industry Applications

Industry Typical Applications Material Value
Outdoor Products Outdoor signs, gardening tools, outdoor protective cases, garden ornaments UV-resistant, good weatherability, suitable for outdoor use
Electronics & Consumer Electronics Electronic enclosures, insulating parts, custom protective cases, transparent decorative parts Good toughness, insulating, excellent transparency
Creative & Design Transparent vases, lighting, decorative ornaments, art models Naturally transparent, high gloss, refined appearance
Toy & Creative Industry LEGO-type bricks, figurine models, creative ornaments, educational toys EN-71-3 toy certified, safe and non-toxic
Automotive Interior trim, dashboard decoration, lamp covers, small functional parts Heat-resistant, aging-resistant, suitable for in-car environment
Mechanical Parts Low-to-medium load, wear and corrosion resistant scenarios Chemical corrosion resistant, good toughness, suitable for functional parts

eSUN Application Cases

PETG-ESD Anti-static Enclosure

A domestic customer used PETG-ESD to print anti-static product enclosures, suitable for electronic component protection.

PETG Aquarium Decorations

A US customer used PETG to print aquarium decorations, combining transparency with water and weather resistance.

Base Material Comparison

Benchmark materials: PLA, ABS

Comparison Dimension PLA PETG ABS
Comprehensive Performance Balance Brittle, insufficient toughness Balances rigidity and toughness, impact-resistant, flexible Good toughness but prone to warping
Heat Resistance Softens and deforms above 60°C Heat resistant 65-75°C, better than PLA Heat resistant ~100°C, better than PETG
Optical & Appearance Mostly solid and semi-transparent High transparency, can make transparent structural parts Completely opaque
Weatherability & Environment Not suitable for outdoor use UV-resistant, weatherable, short-term outdoor use Average weatherability, degrades outdoors
Printing Experience Low warping, easy to print, minimal stringing Strong interlayer adhesion, low warping, but prone to stringing High warping risk, irritating odor during printing
Environmental & Safety Bio-based biodegradable, non-toxic, odorless Petroleum-based, non-toxic, odorless, non-degradable Petroleum-based, releases irritating odor during printing
Positioning Entry-level printing, creative models, educational aids, display parts Indoor/outdoor general aesthetic parts, transparent parts, functional parts High-strength, heat-resistant engineering applications
Key Advantages PETG overcomes PLA's poor heat resistance and brittleness while improving ABS's warping and printing odor; offers high transparency for transparent structural parts; UV-resistant weatherability allows short-term outdoor use. The most balanced general-purpose base material, uniquely positioned for indoor/outdoor general aesthetic parts, transparent parts, and standard functional parts.

PETG Printing Tips

Warning PETG is somewhat hygroscopic and prone to moisture absorption. When resuming printing after long storage, dry at 60°C for >8H first. Damp material prints brittle with bubbles; store sealed and dry.
Parameter / Operation Recommended Notes
Extrusion Temperature 230 - 260°C Fine-tune based on brand and model
Heated Bed Temperature 75 - 90°C Improves first-layer adhesion, reduces warping
Drying Temperature 60°C Recommended >8H after long storage
Cooling Fan Moderate control Over-cooling affects interlayer adhesion
Retraction Distance Precise calibration PETG is prone to stringing, optimize retraction
Storage Sealed and dry Prevent moisture absorption, use a dry box

The above parameters are for reference only. Please fine-tune based on your printer model, nozzle, and model geometry. This guide does not replace the official parameter sheet for specific product specifications.