Filaments for low temperature
i'm working on a model that will eventually find its home in the freezer compartment.
Plenty of information on high temperature materials, less so for prints at the other end of the temperature spectrum. Any recommendations, hands-on experiences?
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
I haven't tried with printed parts but PET survives freezing well...
Cheerio,
RE: Filaments for low temperature
Two winters ago I made three threaded bolt covers out of PETG. They survived the summer +35C and UV and two winters at -35C, including snow and ice. The bolts are embedded in concrete and sticking out by about 1 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch size. I thought the winter ice would break them but they are good as new after all that time. Cannot tell just now since they are under 2 feet of freezing snow at this time....
So I would guess that PETG will be happy in your freezer as long as your application does not have to be food safe.
REPAIR, RENEW, REUSE, RECYCLE, REBUILD, REDUCE, RECOVER, REPURPOSE, RESTORE
RE: Filaments for low temperature
They survived the summer +35C and UV and two winters at -35C, including snow and ice
Okay, my guess is Canada!
Thank you and @diem for your input. I suspected PETG could handle it but wasn't sure. I guess I could have just left it outside for a while, it's pretty cold and icy right now in New England but nowhere near -35C. I did run PETG through a washing machine test last year, and it did great.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
Just make sure there are no voids that could collect water and burst when the ice expands on freezing.
Cheerio,
RE: Filaments for low temperature
Good point. I was also planning on coating with polyurethane, which should close holes such as the seams.
Formerly known on this forum as @fuchsr -- until all hell broke loose with the forum software...
RE: Filaments for low temperature
I have some outdoor signage in PETG that is still looking good in the middle of its 3rd Upstate NY winter.
But I also had a PETG bracket attached to the hitch area on the back of my SUV that failed after its 2nd winter. It was exposed to moderate constant strain & occasional cycling loads. I chalk it up to my own design flaw - I didn't reinforce a stress riser enough. I haven't taken time to redesign it yet, but I'm confident I can make it durable in PETG.
Whatever you find to do with your hands, do with all your might!
RE: Filaments for low temperature
I've printed a few rain barrel downspout diverters out of PLA and PETg. They tend to fill up with ice this time of year and the PLA version fractured about as expected. The two printed in PETg just puff up a bit and return to proper shape when the ice melts. This is the third winter they have been outside but I don't recall the lowest temperature they have been exposed to. Not too much below 0F I think as it doesn't generally get that cold here in northern Ohio.
RE: Filaments for low temperature
Coca-Cola plastic bottle is made from PET (that´s why it is called PET bottle here). It survives low temperatures without any problem, that's why also PET or PETG models should survive low temperatures - only care for ice expansion if needed.