FDM Technology allows you to 3D print parts in a broad range of well tested plastics. Available for the Fortus 400mc, 450mc and 900mc 3D Production Systems, ULTEM 1010 and ULTEM 9085 resins are widely popular materials among Stratasys users. Let’s do a side-by-side comparison of the two materials to see which one we should use for particular applications.
Temperature
Looking at high heat applications, ULTEM 1010 boasts a Heat Deflection Temperature (HDT) of 216ºC (412º F) whereas ULTEM 9085 only has a HDT of 153ºC (307º F).
Strength
ULTEM 1010 is actually the strongest material available in the FDM materials family. Looking at tensile strength rating in the XZ orientation, ULTEM 1010 carries a rating of 9,300 psi while ULTEM 9085 is only 6,800 psi.
Toughness & Flexibility
Some applications such as panels, tools, jigs, fixtures, and clips may require some controlled flexibility. When a tough and durable material with some ductility is needed, ULTEM 9085 is the best choice. Due to its lower flexural strength of 16,200 psi, it’s slightly more forgiving than ULTEM 1010 when it’s necessary for your design.
Chemical Resistance
While both materials have the ability for chemical resistance, ULTEM 1010 is the best choice since it can resist a wider variety of materials.
Thermal Expansion
ULTEM 1010 possesses a lower thermal expansion rating than ULTEM 9085. For example, tooling applications demand a material that has the lowest coefficient of thermal expansion, while also considering dimensional stability over broad temperature ranges. Below we’ve compared the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion (CTE) between several materials.
While there are many other differences between these two materials, this post should give you a glimpse at the capabilities of ULTEM 1010 and ULTEM 9085. With the availability of these two materials, Stratasys has truly raised the expectations and functionality of their FDM materials and we are very excited to see what’s coming next!