10 High-Strength 3D Printing Materials: A Guide for Engineers and Buyers

When it comes to 3D printing, strength and durability are make-or-break factors for many projects—whether you’re creating automotive parts, aerospace components, or industrial tools. Not all 3D printing materials are built to handle heavy loads, high temperatures, or harsh chemicals. That’s why we’ve put together this guide to 10 high-strength 3D printing materials from industry leader Xometry. Each material is broken down by key features, 3D printing technology, real-world applications, and performance data to help you make the right choice for your next project.

What Makes a 3D Printing Material “High-Strength”?

Before diving into the materials, let’s clarify what “high-strength” really means for 3D printing. A high-strength material (or parts made from it) must excel in several core areas:

• Tensile strength: The ability to resist breaking when pulled.
• Compressive strength: The ability to hold up under pressure.
• Shear strength: The ability to resist sliding or tearing.
• Impact resistance: The ability to absorb force without shattering.
• Environmental resistance: Tolerance to heat, chemicals, or harsh weather.

Keep in mind, a part’s final strength isn’t just about the material. It also depends on 3D printing design (e.g., layer adhesion), post-processing (e.g., heat treatment), and print settings (e.g., nozzle temperature). For example, a well-designed part with a lower-strength material might outperform a poorly designed part with a high-strength material.

The Top 10 High-Strength 3D Printing Materials

Below are 10 high-performance materials that stand out for their strength, versatility, and real-world usability. Each entry includes key specs, compatible technologies, and practical examples to show how they’re used.

1. PA12 Carbon-Filled Nylon

What it is: PA12 nylon resin mixed with 35% chopped carbon fiber by weight—this blend boosts structural strength while keeping parts lightweight.

Key strengths: It’s widely recognized as the FDM material with the highest strength-to-weight ratio, making it a great metal alternative in some cases. It also offers good hardness and design flexibility, perfect for prototyping.

3D printing technology: FDM (Fused Deposition Modeling)

Real-world applications:

• Automotive: Drill dies and press-fit inserts.
• Industrial: Fixtures and drill guides.
• Entertainment: Custom props or mechanical components.

Tensile strength: 76 MPa (per Xometry’s quotation engine).

2. Polycarbonate (PC)

What it is: A ductile, amorphous plastic known for its tough, shatter-resistant properties.

Key strengths: Exceptional impact strength, wide operating temperature range, and excellent electrical insulation. It can be mixed with flame retardants without losing quality, and its thermal deformation temperature hits 140°C.

3D printing technology: FDM

Real-world applications:

• Safety gear: Helmet shells (resists impacts during accidents).
• Automotive: Headlamp lenses (handles heat and weather).
• Medical: Equipment housings (needs durability and electrical safety).

Tensile strength: 60 MPa.

3. Stainless Steel 17.4 / 1.4542

What it is: A chromium-nickel-copper stainless steel—one of the strongest metals for 3D printing.

Key strengths: Boasts ultra-high tensile strength (1070 N/mm²) and excellent toughness. It’s corrosion-resistant and can be heat-treated to adjust hardness or flexibility.

3D printing technologies: DMLS (Direct Metal Laser Sintering), bond molding, SLM (Selective Laser Melting)

Real-world applications:

• Aerospace: Turbine blades and shafts (need strength at high altitudes).
• High-tech industry: Gears and dies (handle repeated stress).

Tensile strength: 1103 MPa (the highest on this list for metals).

4. ULTEM 1010

What it is: A high-performance polyetherimide (PEI) thermoplastic—often called the strongest FDM material available.

Key strengths: Unmatched heat resistance and chemical resistance among FDM plastics. It has a very low coefficient of thermal expansion (so parts don’t warp) and is food-contact safe (biocompatible). Available in clear, opaque, or glass-filled grades.

3D printing technology: FDM

Real-world applications:

• Food industry: Custom molds for candy or baked goods (needs food safety).
• Medical: Surgical tools (requires biocompatibility and sterility).
• Industrial: Heat-resistant tooling (handles high temperatures during manufacturing).

Tensile strength: 105 MPa.

5. PEEK

What it is: A high-performance thermoplastic with industrial-grade durability.

Key strengths: Resists harsh chemicals (like oils and solvents) and maintains hardness at high temperatures—can be used continuously at 170°C. It also has great fatigue resistance (handles repeated use) and stress cracking resistance.

3D printing technology: FDM

Real-world applications:

• Oil and gas: Seals and valves (resist corrosive fluids).
• Aerospace: Lightweight structural parts (need high strength and heat tolerance).
• Semiconductor production: Precision components (require chemical resistance).

Tensile strength: 110 MPa.

6. ULTEM 9085

What it is: A lighter, flame-retardant cousin of ULTEM 1010—optimized for weight-sensitive projects.

Key strengths: High strength-to-weight ratio and good impact resistance. It’s flame-retardant (critical for aerospace) and performs similarly to 6.68 nylon (9800).

3D printing technology: FDM

Real-world applications:

• Aerospace: Prototype parts for planes (need flame resistance and light weight).
• Automotive: Fixtures and composite molds (handle manufacturing stress).

Tensile strength: 70 MPa.

7. AlSiMg Aluminum / EN 1706: 1998

What it is: A high-strength aluminum alloy designed for high-temperature use.

Key strengths: Maintains strength at 200°C, has excellent corrosion resistance, and is easy to polish. It’s also weldable, making post-processing simple.

3D printing technology: SLM

Real-world applications:

• Automotive: Engine components (handle heat and vibration).
• Aerospace: Lightweight brackets (need strength without extra weight).

Tensile strength: 230–290 MPa; fatigue strength: 110 N/mm².

8. 316L Stainless Steel / 1.4404

What it is: A low-carbon, chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel—ideal for corrosive environments.

Key strengths: Excellent corrosion resistance in chlorine-based media (like saltwater) and non-oxidizing acids. It has a melting point of 1400°C and the smoothest surface finish of all 3D-printed metals.

3D printing technology: SLM

Real-world applications:

• Food & Beverage: Equipment parts (need hygiene and corrosion resistance).
• Pharmaceutical: Lab tools (require chemical safety and sterility).
• Industrial: Heat exchangers and bolts (handle harsh fluids).

Tensile strength: 490–690 MPa.

9. Glass-Filled ULTEM 1010

What it is: ULTEM 1010 reinforced with glass fibers—adds extra stiffness without losing heat resistance.

Key strengths: Builds on ULTEM 1010’s core benefits (heat, chemical resistance) with improved dimensional stability (parts stay true to size) and stiffness. Still food-contact safe and biocompatible.

3D printing technology: FDM

Real-world applications:

• Medical: Custom instrument handles (need stiffness and sterility).
• Industrial: Precision tooling (requires consistent sizing).

Tensile strength: ~115 MPa (slightly higher than standard ULTEM 1010).

10. Carbon-Filled PEEK

What it is: PEEK mixed with carbon fiber—boosts strength and reduces weight for high-stress applications.

Key strengths: Combines PEEK’s chemical and heat resistance with carbon fiber’s tensile strength and rigidity. Perfect for parts that need to be both strong and lightweight.

3D printing technology: FDM

Real-world applications:

• Aerospace: Structural brackets (need strength and light weight).
• Oil and gas: High-pressure valve components (resist chemicals and stress).

Tensile strength: ~130 MPa (higher than standard PEEK).

Comparison Table: Tensile Strength & Key Specs

To make it easy to compare, here’s a table of the 10 materials’ critical specs—based on Xometry’s data and industry standards:

Yigu Technology’s Perspective on High-Strength 3D Printing Materials

At Yigu Technology, we’ve seen firsthand how the right high-strength 3D printing material transforms projects—from cutting production time for automotive parts to enabling lighter, safer aerospace components. We recommend matching materials to your project’s “pain points”: if weight is critical, choose AlSiMg Aluminum or Carbon-Filled PEEK; if corrosion is a risk, 316L Stainless Steel is unbeatable; for food/medical use, ULTEM 1010 checks all boxes. Partnering with suppliers like Xometry ensures access to these top-tier materials, but we also emphasize testing—even the strongest material needs proper design to perform. Our team helps clients select, test, and optimize high-strength materials for real-world success.

FAQ: Common Questions About High-Strength 3D Printing Materials

1. Can high-strength 3D printed parts replace metal parts entirely?

It depends on the application. Materials like PA12 Carbon-Filled Nylon or Carbon-Filled PEEK can replace metal for lightweight, low-to-medium stress parts (e.g., fixtures, prototypes). But for ultra-high stress (e.g., aerospace turbine blades), metals like Stainless Steel 17.4 are still necessary.

2. Which high-strength material is best for food-contact applications?

ULTEM 1010 (and its glass-filled variant) is the top choice—it’s food-contact safe (meets FDA standards), biocompatible, and heat-resistant. It’s used for custom molds, food processing tools, and even packaging components.

3. Do high-strength 3D printing materials require special post-processing?

Some do. For example, Stainless Steel 17.4 often needs heat treatment to adjust hardness, while AlSiMg Aluminum may require polishing for a smooth finish. FDM plastics like PEEK or ULTEM may need annealing (heat treatment) to reduce internal stress and boost strength. Always check the material’s guidelines for post-processing steps.