Black PETG: Properties and Best Options

Black PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-Modified) is a versatile and popular material widely used in 3D printing, packaging, and manufacturing. Known for its durability, flexibility, and user-friendliness, black PETG combines mechanical strength, chemical resistance, and aesthetic appeal. Its high gloss finish and sleek black color make it ideal for functional and decorative purposes. The material's ease of printing and environmental stability add to its attractiveness, making it a top choice for professionals and hobbyists. This article examines black PETG's key properties, highlights top market options, and offers guidance on where to purchase it for your projects.

Creative Uses for Black PETG in Everyday Designs

Here are some real-life examples of designs that can be printed with black PETG:

1. Bag Clip with Screw Cap

The printer used for this project is a Creality CR-10 Mini, and it doesn't require rafts or supports. The printing resolution is set at a 0.2mm layer height with a 0.4mm nozzle, and the infill is set to 20%. The filament used is from Enotepad, available in grey; the materials tested include both PLA and PETG. Additionally, six perimeters were used in the print. When using PETG, you may find it a bit more challenging to loosen the hinge due to its superior layer adhesion compared to PLA.

2. 3D-printed Watch 

 

PETG-printed components possess robust physical strength and excellent impact resistance, making them durable against wear and tear. This project features a mechanical watch powered by a 3D-printed mainspring, complete with a tourbillon and a Swiss lever escapement. The mainspring, housed within the going barrel, keeps the watch operational for about 30-45 minutes. Its accuracy is impressive, with a deviation of roughly one second per minute, although this can vary based on print settings.

This project showcases the advancements in 3D-printing technology, which has become more reliable and precise compared to earlier generations. However, it remains a highly intricate endeavor; any printing inaccuracies must be manually adjusted using watchmaking skills to ensure the watch functions correctly.

The watch design was created using Autodesk Fusion 360 and printed with an Ultimaker 2. The print settings include using an Ultimaker 2 printer without rafts or supports, with normal resolution (cura defaults) and 30% infill. A 0.4 mm nozzle is used, and only the pawl unlock key requires support during printing.

Specific components like the hairspring, anchor, escapement wheel, and some gears with a high resolution of 0.06 mm layer thickness and 0.8  mm shell were used. All other parts were printed with a normal resolution of 0.1 mm layer thickness and 0.8 mm shell. To achieve a more balanced center of gravity, the anchor has an 80% infill, while the remaining components have a 30% infill.

3. Planters 

 

PETG stands out for its impressive durability against weather and heat, making it an ideal choice for crafting planters and various gardening implements. For instance, you could fashion a square planter complete with a bas-relief guard, incorporating a 10mm water discharge hole and a sturdy 3mm wall thickness. When engaging in such projects, it's advisable to utilize PETG material for printing due to its reliability. Regarding 3D printing specifications, a model with dimensions of 110 x 110 x 115 mm and a 3mm wall thickness is recommended, with the added benefit of scalability. It's suggested to fill the PETG material up to 50% for optimal results.

Properties of Black PETG

• Durability and Strength

Black PETG is renowned for its excellent mechanical properties, combining toughness and flexibility. It is resistant to impact, making it ideal for applications that require a robust material. Its tensile strength allows it to withstand significant stress without deforming or breaking, which is crucial for both functional and decorative purposes.

• Chemical Resistance

One of the standout features of black PETG is its resistance to various chemicals. It can withstand exposure to acids, alkalis, and solvents, making it suitable for use in environments where chemical exposure is a concern. This property ensures that black PETG maintains its integrity and appearance over time, even under harsh conditions.

• Transparency and Gloss

While black PETG is opaque, it retains the high gloss and smooth finish characteristic of PETG materials. This aesthetic quality makes it a popular choice for consumer goods and packaging, where appearance is just as important as functionality. The deep black color also adds a sleek, professional look to any product.

• Ease of Printing

In 3D printing, black PETG is favored for its ease of use. Its relatively low melting point compared to other polymers reduces the likelihood of warping and stringing during the printing process. Its excellent layer adhesion and minimal shrinkage result in precise, high-quality prints. Additionally, black PETG’s low moisture absorption rate minimizes issues related to filament storage and usage.

• Environmental Stability

Black PETG exhibits good UV resistance, which prevents it from degrading when exposed to sunlight. This property is essential for outdoor applications where materials are subjected to prolonged exposure to the elements. Its stability also extends to thermal properties, as black PETG can withstand a wide range of temperatures without losing its mechanical properties.

• Food Safety

Many black PETG formulations are FDA-approved for food contact applications. This makes it an excellent choice for packaging, containers, and other items that come into direct contact with food and beverages. The non-toxic nature of PETG ensures that it does not leach harmful chemicals, maintaining the safety and quality of consumable products.

Best Options for Black PETG

It's important to take into consideration factors like quality, brand reputation, and particular application demands when choosing black PETG. These are a few of the top products right now on the market.

1. eSUN Black PETG Filament

eSun PETG 3D Filament is like a mix of ABS and PLA, giving you an easy-to-print material that's tough and can handle heat well. It sticks together really well, making strong prints that can bend without breaking, unlike PLA. Plus, it has a shiny finish and comes in cool, translucent colors.

 

Printing with PETG is almost as simple as PLA but needs a bit more care with the first layer so it doesn't blob up. It doesn't stick well to other stuff like glue, but it's great on its own. You can print it with or without a heated bed, but we suggest using one at around 65 degrees for better results.

 

PETG is strong, flexible, shiny, and doesn't shrink much. It's also good with chemicals and doesn't absorb water easily, making it great for different projects. And the best part? It doesn't smell much while printing!

 

Purchase Link: Electronicscomp.com

 

2. Hatchbox Black PETG Filament

The black PETG filament from HATCHBOX 3D Products is designed to bring your creative ideas to life with ease. It's made to fit 3D printers that use a 1.75mm diameter filament, ensuring compatibility for a wide range of users. This filament doesn't absorb moisture, making it hydrophobic and doesn't require a heating bed for printing. You'll find it easy to stick to various surfaces during printing. Plus, it's environmentally safe and odorless, adding to its appeal. 

With a print temperature range of 230°C to 260°C, you can achieve strength and flexibility in your printed objects. Overall, this black PETG filament offers a glossy finish and a good balance of toughness, adhesion, and stiffness, making it a great choice for your 3D printing projects.

Purchase Link: Hatchbox3d.com.

3. OVERTURE PETG Filament 

This filament from Overture is a great choice for 3D printing because it combines the best features of PLA and ABS. It's easy to use like PLA, but has the durability of ABS, making it resistant to impacts and ensuring strong layer adhesion. 

The filament is made with a special formula that prevents clogs and bubbles during printing, giving you a smooth experience. Before packaging, the spools are dried for 24 hours and sealed in foil packaging to keep them in top condition. To maintain its performance, store the filament in a sealed container with silica gel or dry it for six hours at 65˚C. 

The filament has a diameter of 1.75mm with very precise accuracy. It works well with various 3D printers and comes in a wide range of colors. Overture offers lifetime service, so you can rely on them for any help or support you need with your 3D printing projects.

Purchase Link: Amazon.com.

4. MatterHackers Black Build Series PETG

MH Build Series PETG offers a wide range of colors to suit your project needs. You can choose from popular colors like black, white, red, blue, green, silver, translucent purple, and many more. It's great for making prototypes and final parts in colors that are ready for use. This PETG filament is strong like ABS but easy to use like PLA, making it a good choice for people who want something tougher than PLA. It's especially good for making parts for things like robots, drones, and mechanical projects.

Here are some technical details: You'll want to set your 3D printer's extruder temperature to around 245°C and the bed temperature to around 60°C. The filament spool is about 270mm wide and weighs 2.5 kg, with a true diameter of 1.75 mm and a very accurate dimensional tolerance of ±0.03mm. Its density is 1.27 g/cm³, and it gives you about 875 meters of filament on a spool.

Purchase Link: Matterhackers.com.

Where to Buy PETG Black Filament

You can buy black PETG filament from several physical and online stores. The following stores have been recommended for the purchase of premium black PETG:

1. Amazon

• Amazon has lots of black PETG options from different brands.

• You can read reviews from other customers to help you choose.
• If you're a Prime member, you might get fast and free shipping.

2. MatterHackers

• MatterHackers focuses on 3D printing supplies and has good-quality black PETG.

• They give detailed information about each product to help you make the right choice.
• They also have helpful guides and support for people interested in 3D printing.

3. Prusa Research

•  Prusa Research sells top-notch black PETG directly.

•  Their products are known for being precise and reliable.
• You can also find other 3D printing materials and tools from them.

4. eSUN Official Store

• eSUN's store offers a full range of black PETG and other filaments.
• Buying from them ensures you're getting genuine products.
•  Sometimes, they have discounts and promotions too.

5. Local Stores

• Check out local hobby shops or electronics stores for black PETG.
• Buying locally supports small businesses and lets you see the product in person.
• You might also get personalized advice and support for your 3D printing needs.

Having looked at the black PETG, it’s also good to have a look at the best 3D printing software that you can use to create your files and even prepare them for 3D printing. There are many that are available, but we recommend using SelfCAD. It is an easy to use 3D CAD software designed for both beginners and professionals. It can be used online or on Windows and Mac computers. While it's not entirely free, the free version has all the essential features to bring your ideas to life. The video below shows the overview of the software.

Additionally, SelfCAD has an in-built free online slicer. This slicer helps you slice your designs and generate the G-code needed for 3D printing, all within the same program, eliminating the need for separate software.

Black PETG: Adaptable and Durable 3D Printing Filament for Advanced Applications

Black PETG is a valuable material that a lot of people use for different things, like 3D printing or packaging. It's strong, can handle chemicals well, is easy to work with, and looks good, too. Professionals and hobbyists both like using it. When you're picking black PETG, you should think about the brand, how good it is, and what you're going to use it for. Good brands include eSUN, Hatchbox, Prusament, Overture, and MatterHackers. You can buy it online from places like Amazon and MatterHackers or directly from companies like Prusa Research and eSUN. There are lots of good options out there to get high-quality black PETG for whatever you're working on.

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