ForgedLink Material Guide
Additive Manufacturing
Material Reference
Technical data, process compatibility, and engineering considerations for 23 AM materials. Know what you're specifying before the RFQ.
Metal Alloy
Titanium Ti-6Al-4V (Grade 5)
The most widely used titanium alloy in additive manufacturing. Ti-6Al-4V combines exceptional strength-to-weight ratio with corrosion resistance, making it the standard for aerospace structural components and medical implants.
Processes: SLM, EBM, LPBF, DED
Metal Alloy
Commercially Pure Titanium (Grade 2)
A lower-strength but highly corrosion-resistant titanium grade. CP Ti Grade 2 is preferred for medical devices, dental applications, and chemical processing where weldability and formability matter more than ultimate strength.
Processes: SLM, EBM, LPBF
Metal Alloy
Inconel 718
A precipitation-hardened nickel-chromium superalloy engineered for extreme environments. Inconel 718 maintains mechanical properties at temperatures up to 700 °C, making it essential for turbine components, rocket engines, and nuclear applications.
Processes: SLM, LPBF, DED, EBM
Metal Alloy
Inconel 625
A solid-solution-strengthened nickel superalloy with outstanding corrosion resistance in aggressive environments. Inconel 625 excels in marine, chemical processing, and aerospace exhaust applications where IN718's precipitation hardening isn't required.
Processes: SLM, LPBF, DED
Metal Alloy
Hastelloy X
A nickel-chromium-iron-molybdenum superalloy with exceptional high-temperature oxidation resistance up to 1,200 °C. Hastelloy X is used in gas turbine combustion zones, industrial furnaces, and petrochemical environments.
Processes: SLM, LPBF, DED
Metal Alloy
Stainless Steel 316L
The most commonly printed stainless steel in AM. 316L offers excellent corrosion resistance, good mechanical properties, and is significantly more affordable than titanium or nickel alloys — making it the default choice for functional prototyping and production parts.
Processes: SLM, LPBF, DED, Binder Jetting
Metal Alloy
Stainless Steel 17-4 PH
A precipitation-hardened martensitic stainless steel combining high strength (up to 1,300 MPa) with moderate corrosion resistance. 17-4 PH is used where hardness and wear resistance are needed alongside stainless properties.
Processes: SLM, LPBF, Binder Jetting
Metal Alloy
Maraging Steel (18Ni-300 / 1.2709)
An ultra-high-strength tool steel achieving 2,000+ MPa tensile strength after aging. Maraging steel is the standard AM material for injection mould tooling with conformal cooling, die casting inserts, and high-performance mechanical components.
Processes: SLM, LPBF
Metal Alloy
Aluminium AlSi10Mg
The most established aluminium alloy in metal AM. AlSi10Mg offers a good balance of strength, low density, and thermal conductivity — used extensively for lightweight structural parts, heat exchangers, and automotive components.
Processes: SLM, LPBF
Metal Alloy
Scalmalloy (Al-Mg-Sc)
A high-performance aluminium-magnesium-scandium alloy developed specifically for AM. Scalmalloy delivers tensile strengths above 500 MPa with excellent fatigue life — bridging the gap between conventional aluminium and titanium.
Processes: LPBF, SLM
Metal Alloy
Cobalt Chrome (CoCr / CoCrMo)
A cobalt-chromium-molybdenum alloy with exceptional wear and corrosion resistance. CoCr is the standard material for dental restorations, orthopaedic implants, and gas turbine components requiring high-temperature wear performance.
Processes: SLM, LPBF, EBM
Metal Alloy
H13 Tool Steel
A hot-work tool steel with excellent resistance to thermal fatigue and wear. H13 is used in AM for die casting dies, forging tools, and extrusion dies where conformal cooling and complex geometries improve tool life and cycle times.
Processes: SLM, LPBF, DED
Metal Alloy
Pure Copper (Cu)
Pure copper offers the highest thermal and electrical conductivity of any AM metal. Green laser or EBM systems have unlocked reliable copper printing for heat exchangers, induction coils, and electrical busbars with complex geometries.
Processes: LPBF, Binder Jetting, EBM
Polymer
Nylon PA12 (Polyamide 12)
The most widely used polymer in industrial 3D printing. PA12 offers an excellent balance of strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance — the default choice for functional prototypes and low-to-mid volume production parts.
Processes: SLS, MJF, FDM
Polymer
Nylon PA11 (Polyamide 11)
A bio-sourced polyamide derived from castor oil with significantly higher ductility and impact resistance than PA12. PA11 is used where parts must withstand repeated bending, impact, or vibration without fracturing.
Processes: SLS, MJF
Composite
Nylon PA12 Glass-Filled (PA12 GF)
PA12 reinforced with 30–40% glass beads for increased stiffness, dimensional stability, and thermal resistance. The go-to material for parts requiring tight tolerances under load or elevated temperatures.
Processes: SLS, MJF
Composite
Nylon Carbon Fibre Composite
Nylon reinforced with chopped carbon fibres for maximum stiffness-to-weight ratio in polymer AM. Used for lightweight structural parts, end-of-arm tooling, and ESD-safe applications in electronics manufacturing.
Processes: SLS, FDM
Polymer
TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane)
A flexible, rubber-like polymer with excellent impact absorption and abrasion resistance. TPU enables printed seals, gaskets, shoe midsoles, and vibration dampers that require elastomeric performance.
Processes: SLS, MJF, FDM
Polymer
Polypropylene (PP)
A versatile, lightweight polymer with outstanding chemical resistance and near-zero moisture absorption. PP is used for fluid-handling parts, automotive components, and packaging applications where PA12's moisture sensitivity is a limitation.
Processes: SLS, MJF
Resin
Standard Photopolymer Resin
The highest-resolution AM material, producing parts with smooth surfaces and fine details down to 25 µm. Standard resin is used for concept models, visual prototypes, patterns for investment casting, and jewellery masters.
Processes: SLA, DLP
Resin
Tough / ABS-Like Resin
Engineering-grade resin formulated to simulate ABS mechanical properties. Tough resin bridges the gap between brittle standard resins and functional SLS polymers — used for functional prototypes, snap-fits, and short-run production.
Processes: SLA, DLP
Resin
Dental & Biocompatible Resin
Class IIa biocompatible resins certified for intraoral use. Used for surgical guides, dental splints, clear aligners, and temporary crowns — the fastest-growing AM application in healthcare.
Processes: SLA, DLP
Ceramic
Alumina Ceramic (Al₂O₃)
A high-purity technical ceramic with extreme hardness, thermal stability, and electrical insulation. AM-produced alumina is used for complex ceramic components that are impossible to machine — including catalyst supports, electrical insulators, and biomedical implants.
Processes: Binder Jetting, SLA (ceramic-filled), DLP