Are you looking for the best 3D printing material for outdoor use? What if the solution were simpler and better than expected?
Choosing the right material is crucial when creating 3D prints intended for outdoor use. ASA (Acrylonitrile Styrene Acrylate) is considered the reference filament for its renowned resistance to UV rays and weathering. However, anyone who has tried to print with it knows its difficulties well: warping, unpleasant odours and the need for an enclosed and preferably heated print chamber. What if we told you that a simpler, cheaper and aesthetically superior solution exists? Today we reveal why the combination of PETG and a transparent protective paint such as 3Dbooster UV Shield represents the winning choice for your functional outdoor prints.
Overcome the Limits of ASA: The Advantages of Enhanced PETG
PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol) has long been one of the most loved filaments in the world of 3D printing for its excellent balance between ease of printing and robustness. Although its UV resistance is lower than that of ASA, this limitation is completely eliminated by the application of a protective shield. Let's look in detail at why this combination outperforms ASA in many respects.
1. Easy Printing, Guaranteed Results
The first major obstacle of ASA is its tendency to warp and delaminate between layers. To achieve a successful print, a 3D printer with an enclosed chamber, preferably heated, capable of maintaining a constant and high ambient temperature, is almost indispensable. This requirement rules out many of the most common printers on the market from the outset.
The PETG, on the other hand, is notoriously easy to print. It does not require an enclosed chamber, adheres well to most print beds and the warping phenomenon is almost non-existent if the basic settings are correct. This translates into a much higher print success rate, less material waste and less frustration.
2. Lower Costs, Greater Efficiency
Let's analyse the economic aspect. ASA filament has an average cost per kilogram higher than that of PETG. If we add to this the energy cost of maintaining a heated print chamber for hours and the greater risk of failed prints, it is clear that choosing PETG translates into significant savings. Savings that you can invest in more filament or other upgrades for your business.
3. Aesthetics and Colour Variety
ASA is available in a rather limited range of colours. PETG, on the other hand, boasts an incredible variety of colours, including transparent and translucent versions that ASA cannot offer. This opens up a world of creative and functional possibilities. Furthermore, the surface finish of PETG is generally glossier and shinier, giving parts a more refined and professional appearance right from the start. With the addition of clear varnish 3Dbooster UV Shield, the finish becomes even more uniform and glossy.
Not Just UV Protection: The Secret Weapon of Clear Varnish
The real turning point of this combination is the post-printing application of a specific protective varnish. Our 3Dbooster UV Shield does not simply block the ultraviolet rays that yellow and weaken the plastic. Its application offers two fundamental advantages for functional parts:
- Total Waterproofing: FDM (Fused Deposition Modelling) 3D prints naturally have micro-gaps between layers. These spaces, although minimal, make the part porous and vulnerable to water infiltration. The clear varnish hermetically seals these gaps, creating a continuous barrier and making the print completely waterproof.
- Hydrolysis Resistance: Moisture and prolonged contact with water can trigger a hydrolysis process in PETG, degrading its mechanical properties. By sealing the surface, the protective varnish prevents water from coming into direct contact with the polymer, ensuring greater durability and reliability of the part over time.
- Prevents the formation of mould and moss: although ASA is a hydrophobic material, the surface roughness created by the layers could encourage the build-up of dust and organic material, on which mould, fungi and moss develop in damp environments. The glossy protective layer of the varnish drastically reduces this phenomenon. In this sense 3DBooster UV-Shield is a valuable ally for ASA as well as PETG.
- Preserves colour durability: even if the mechanical resistance of ASA is guaranteed outdoors, the same durability is not necessarily guaranteed for the colour, especially on light colours such as white and yellow or with particularly complex pigments such as red. Using 3DBooster UV Shield guarantees a significantly longer colour life.
So if, for the reasons set out above, it might be advisable to protect ASA with protective varnish; you might as well use PETG directly and enjoy the advantages in terms of cost, finish and colour listed earlier. Are you still looking for the “best 3D printing material for outdoor use“?
In practice, with a simple and quick varnishing operation, you not only protect your part from the sun's rays, but also make it a monolithic, waterproof and incredibly more durable object.
Conclusion: The Smart Choice for Outdoors
If you are looking for performance, reliability and value for money, the answer is no longer, or not only, ASA. The combination of PETG and a protective UV coating represents an evolution in the way 3D-printed objects for outdoor use are conceived. You can enjoy the ease of printing and the versatility of PETG, while at the same time achieving weather resistance and durability that can rival and often surpass those of ASA, with a lower total cost and unrivalled aesthetic freedom.
Do not let the printing difficulties of ASA limit your projects. Choose the smarter, faster and more efficient way. Discover how our shield anti-UV protective can transform your PETG prints. Visit the product page to find the best 3D printing material for outdoor use and take your projects to the next level.
3DBooster UV-Shield can also be painted and sanded