PETG is short for Polyethylene Terephthalate. It is a very durable material and is generally considered impact-resistant. It is also lightweight and has a small amount of flexibility. It can handle higher temperatures than PLA. Due to these factors, it has been gaining in popularity. It is a good all-around material and is also available in a variety of colours.
Pros
- Ideal for objects which might experience a strong impact, such as a protective case
- Considered food/drink safe. (FDA approved for food containers and tools used in food consumption, and BPA free)
- Produces no odour or fumes during the printing process
- Considered skin safe and can be used in medical applications
- Low shrinkage rate making it ideal for large prints
- Great Chemical resistance with good water, acid and alkaline resistance
- Less issues than with moisture absorption than PLA when in storage
Cons
- Higher price than PLA
- It can be difficult to print bridges between parts when using PETG as the material is prone to sagging. Cooling your print as it is produced, and using a lower print speed and temperature can help to mitigate this.
- Susceptible to producing thin hairs on the print due to stringing and oozing
- Many people like the clarity that the product can have, however this can lead to it will also make any imperfections within the internal layers of your print visible.
Many find that 3D printing with PETG can be difficult when you begin using it, but once you find the correct settings you will find it is quite easy to use and produces high quality products.