Yes, based on its described strength, ABS filament is considered a relatively hard material in the context of 3D printing.
Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) is a widely used plastic known for its durability and resilience. It's a popular choice in 3D printing for creating functional parts, prototypes, and objects that require a higher level of strength and heat resistance than materials like PLA.
Understanding ABS Properties
The provided reference notes that "ABS is a strong and heat resistant filament." This strength is a key indicator of its properties:
- Strength: A strong material resists breaking or deforming under stress. This inherent strength contributes significantly to the rigidity of ABS prints, making them less flexible than some other filament types.
- Rigidity: While not explicitly called "hard," a strong material is typically rigid. Rigidity is the resistance to bending or flexing, which is a characteristic often associated with "hard" plastics.
- Durability: The combination of strength and rigidity makes ABS parts quite durable and resistant to impact, which is why it's used in applications like LEGO® bricks.
Compared to other common filaments:
- Vs. PLA: ABS is generally less brittle than PLA and more resistant to impact. While surface scratch hardness can vary, ABS is often preferred for parts requiring mechanical strength and durability.
- Vs. Flexible Filaments (like TPU): ABS is significantly harder and more rigid than flexible materials, which are designed specifically for elasticity and bending.
Key Characteristics of ABS Filament
Here's a quick look at some of the important features of ABS filament:
| Feature | Description | Relevance to "Hardness"/Strength |
|---|---|---|
| Strength | Resists breaking under load (as per reference) | Direct contributor to overall material rigidity. |
| Heat Resistance | Maintains form at higher temperatures (as per reference) | Indicates structural stability under heat. |
| Durability | Resistant to impact and wear | Result of inherent strength and rigidity. |
| Post-Processing | Can be sanded, painted, and smoothed (e.g., with acetone) | Allows for creating objects with desired finish and surface hardness. |
While it can be a bit trickier to print with due to factors like warping, the robust mechanical properties, including its strength and resulting rigidity, make ABS a go-to material when a relatively hard and durable part is needed.
