What are some common thermoplastics used in FDM?

The answer identifies a selection of thermoplastics widely recognized for their suitability in Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM), which relies on materials that can repeatedly melt and solidify without significant degradation.

PLA (Polylactic Acid) is favored in FDM for its ease of use and biodegradable properties, making it ideal for beginners and environmentally conscious projects. ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) is another common choice, known for its toughness, impact resistance, and ability to withstand higher temperatures than PLA, which makes it suitable for functional parts. PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol-modified) combines the best features of both PLA and ABS, offering good strength, flexibility, and chemical resistance while remaining easy to print. Nylon is also popular in FDM for its exceptional strength and durability, although it can be more challenging to print due to its tendency to absorb moisture.

The other options introduce materials that do not align as closely with common FDM practice. Some materials listed may require specialized printing techniques or are not thermoplastics suitable for typical FDM processes. For instance, silicone is a thermoset and does not melt and reflow, while metals are generally processed using different printing technologies. Understanding