Ultrafuse® rPET: 3D printing plastic filament

What is Ultrafuse® rPET plastic material? Learn more about this recycled PET filament and get all the information and advice you need to help you print your 3D model. Versatile and reliable, printed using FDM technology, do not hesitate to start using Ultrafuse® rPET filament.

Colors

Finishes

Characteristics

Surface Look
Details
Strength
Flexibility

Ultrafuse® rPET Filament Material Guide

What is Ultrafuse® rPET material?

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a semi-crystalline thermoplastic polymer in the polyester family. It is produced through the polymerization of ethylene glycol and terephthalic acid, derived from oil and gas.

Ultrafuse® rPET is our new recycled filament, produced from post-industrial recycled grade PET, making it an excellent alternative to virgin PET.

It is a highly versatile plastic known for its stiffness, strength, flexibility and overall good mechanical properties. Using rPET material presents many benefits. Lightweight and resistant to impact, moisture, and solvents, it can be used in a broad range of applications, and is suitable for food contact under the European Plastics Regulation.

One of the world’s most instantly recognizable plastic objects is certainly the plastic water bottle. PET is mainly known as a packaging for plastic bottles of water and carbonated drinks, but has been increasingly used as recycled fiber for garments and other objects, due to its great recycling potential and availability. 

Considering the vast amount of virgin PET plastic that is produced every day, and the fact that 44% of total waste is generated by plastics, it seemed particularly relevant to try and come up with a solution. PET is a widely popular material for everyday objects; however, it is also an important concern when it comes to plastic waste, handling, and recycling. That is why we are happy to add this recycled PET filament to our materials offer.

This new recycled filament enables us to cut down on 60% of CO2 emissions compared to virgin PET*, while being just as performant. More and more companies are looking for eco-friendly alternatives, using rPET could be an interesting alternative.

As you can see below, rPET plastic filament presents a serious environmental advantage over virgin PET filament:

virgin PET vs rPET emissions

*in a cradle-to-gate life cycle analysis up to the filament production

Source: Forward AM Sustainability Department

Even if this rPET material is easy to 3D print, please keep in mind that specific design guidelines need to be respected, in order to avoid any problem during the additive manufacturing process. 

Be sure to check the material design guidelines while creating your 3D file, and before you send it for 3D printing.

If you want to know more about the general properties of rPET filament, you can check our “Technical Specifications” part.

What are the possible applications for Ultrafuse® rPET plastic?

  • Tooling
rPET Tooling

Ultrafuse® rPET is an excellent choice for parts ranging from prototypes to tooling, and parts for your custom assembly line.

Benefit from a good surface finishing, and get a great end result straight out of the printer.

  • Assembly guides

Are you looking for a material to create parts with complex designs and a high level of details, such as assembly guides? rPET is just as versatile and performant as PET!

  • Jigs and fixtures

rPET jigs fixtures

Thanks to its versatility combining strength and flexibility, using rPET can be ideal to create parts such as specific jigs and fixtures. This material can easily be fit to meet your needs.

Pricing for Ultrafuse® rPET 3D printing filament

The printing price of your design is calculated automatically the moment the 3D file is uploaded. As you modify your object (changing material, finishing, size, using our hollowing feature, etc.) you will note that the price changes automatically. The pricing is based on a series of factors, including total volume, object size, infill rate and bounding box – to name a few.

The estimated shipping time is also calculated automatically as the object is uploaded and each time you make a modification on it. Delivery time should be added to processing time.

For more information, please check our pricing page.

How does FDM 3D printing technology work?

Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) is a widely used 3D printing technology known for its simplicity and efficiency. It works by melting a thermoplastic filament and depositing it layer by layer to build the desired object. The filament is fed through a heated printhead, which extrudes the molten material onto a build platform, where it solidifies. This additive manufacturing process allows for the creation of precise and intricate designs with various thermoplastic materials. FDM technology offers an accessible and reliable solution for prototyping, product development, and manufacturing applications.

Colors and Finishings available for Ultrafuse® rPET plastic material

Please note that some support scars and bumps will still be visible if your parts are left raw. This is due to the support directly contacting your parts during the printing process. The support structures are removed during the post-processing steps. Upon request, your parts can be sanded and finished by our technicians.

This means there are considerations you should keep in mind during the design of your part, to facilitate not only the successful construction of your part but also the removal of support structures and the finishing of your surfaces.

Please note that, for this recycled PET plastic material with a natural blue color, a slight shift in appearance can occur. As this product is manufactured out of 100% recycled materials and we desire a low product carbon footprint, we do not add substances in order to stabilize the color. This means a shade shift can occur from one part to the other.

      Maximum size
      – Raw

        400 x 400 x 400 mm

      maximum size icon

      The maximum size of your models are limited by the physical size of our 3D printers – If you’d like to produce larger parts, please contact us!

      Standard Layer thickness: 250 µm

      Standard nozzle size: 0.4 mm

      Accuracy : +/- 0,3 % (min 0.3mm)

      Depending on the selected nozzle diameter, sharp corners may not be printed. Please check Knife/Pointed Edges section to overcome a potential problem

      printing resolution & accuracy

      Knife edges/pointed edges will likely to fail during the print process. Round all knife edges with a 1.00 mm (0.03 in.) radius to avoid failing edges.

      Minimum wall thickness:

      1.2 mm
      Stemmed elements with support:

      1.25 mm
      Stemmed elements without support:

      1.25 mm

      minimum thickness 1
      minimum thickness 2

      Minimum height and width details: Embossed : 3mm
      Engraved : 0.8

      Ratio Depth / width: N/A

      etching embossing 1etching embossing 2 

      Enclosed parts? No

      Interlocking parts? No

      enclosed parts & interlocking volumes

      Minimum spacing between fixed walls:

      0.5 mm
      Minimum clearance between parts:

      0.5 mm

      minimum spacing & clearance

      Hollowing? No

      hollowing

      Angles under 45° require support structures.

      Please keep in mind that surfaces that have connection with support won´t be as smooth as the surfaces without support.

      overhangs & inside edges

      Support structures on edges, holes and corners are difficult to remove and sometimes it is not possible to do so.

      Mechanical PropertiesZXXZXY

      Tensile Strength

      (MPa)

      14.738.6
      Flexural Modulus (MPa)82915511662
      Elongation at Break1.2%4.3 %

      Impact Strength Izod

      notched (kJ/m2)

       1.53.34.4 

      Impact Strength Izod

      unnotched (kJ/m2)

       4.421.948.2
      HDT @ 0.45 MPa: 71°C

      What does PET stand for?

      PET stands for Polyethylene Terephthalate.

      It is a type of plastic commonly used for beverage bottles, food packaging, and other consumer goods.

        What is PET plastic used for?

        PET is commonly used in packaging applications due to its transparency, lightweight nature, and flexibility. It is also recognized for its recyclability, making it an excellent choice for sustainable packaging.

        Why is PET the most recycled plastic?

        PET plastic is the most recycled plastic in the world for several reasons. Firstly, PET is highly recyclable and can be easily transformed into new products without losing its original properties. Secondly, PET is widely used for various purposes including packaging, clothing, and devices, which creates a consistent supply of PET waste for recycling. In addition, PET is a lightweight material that can be efficiently recycled on a large scale, supporting its cost-effectiveness. Finally, the infrastructure needed for PET recycling already exists, making it an economically viable option.

        Is PET a safe plastic?

        PET is generally considered a safe plastic for common uses, such as food and beverages packaging. It is known as an inert material, meaning it does not transfer to beverages or foods. However, it is important to note that PET should be used within the recommended temperature ranges and not subjected to excessive heat, as it may release harmful substances.

        What is rPET material?

         rPET is a great substitute for virgin PET because rPET is a recycled filament made from post-industrial recycled grade PET.

        What's the difference between PET and rPET?

        rPET is created entirely from recycled PET and alsmost has the same properties as regular PET (so that its applications are likewise very similar), in addition to being more sustainable and eco-friendly.

        Is rPET eco friendly?

        rPET is an eco-friendly alternative. In comparison to virgin PET*, we can reduce our CO2 emissions by 60% while maintaining the same performance with this innovative recovered filament.

        Ready to 3D print with rPETplastic material?

        With Sculpteo’s online 3D printing service you’re just a few clicks away from professional rPET 3D printing. Your 3D model is printed with the highest quality and delivered straight to your door. 

        Get started now to get your rPET prints!

        Discover our other plastic materials...