Mechanical Properties of PLA, PETG, and ABS parts Printed on a CoreXY 3D Printer

Choosing the right filament is the most critical decision in 3D printing, especially as CoreXY and high-speed machines become the industry standard. A 2025 study by Ekrem and Yılmaz provides a definitive look at how the three most popular materials like PLA, PETG, and ABS perform when pushed to a high-speed printing limit of 300 mm/s.

Whether you are printing functional prototypes or end-use parts, here is the data-backed breakdown of which material wins for your specific application.

1. Strength & Durability: The PETG Advantage

If your project requires high-performance functional parts, PETG is the clear high-speed champion.

• Maximum Strength: PETG achieved the highest maximum stress at 51.3 MPa, outperforming both PLA (48.0 MPa) and ABS (42.8 MPa).
• Toughness: In high-speed environments, PETG offers superior energy absorption with a toughness rating of 334.4 kJ/m³, making it ideal for parts that must survive impact.
• Flexibility: PETG recorded the highest percentage elongation at 9.65%, providing the best resistance to cracking under strain.

2. Rigidity & Detail: Why PLA Still Rules

While PETG wins on toughness, PLA remains the king of stiffness and dimensional accuracy.

• Modulus of Elasticity: PLA is the stiffest material tested, with an elastic modulus of 1346.4 MPa.
• Precision: Due to its crystalline structure, PLA maintains high rigidity, though it remains more brittle than its counterparts.
• Eco-Friendly Printing: PLA is derived from renewable sources like corn starch and is the only biodegradable option among the three.

3. Surface Quality & Finish

Surface roughness is a common challenge in high-speed 3D printing. The study measured the arithmetic average value of surface roughness (Ra) to see which material looks best straight off the bed.

Material	Initial Top Surface Roughness (Ra)	Final Smoothness (800 Grit Sanding)
PETG	6.166 (Smoothest)	0.687 Ra
PLA	6.603	1.054 Ra
ABS	9.441 (Roughest)	1.363 Ra

While ABS produces the roughest initial finish, it is highly responsive to sanding and post-processing, making it a favorite for automotive and aesthetic parts.

4. Environmental Resistance: Moisture Stability

For outdoor or humid environments, your choice of filament determines how long your part will last.

• PETG: Exhibited the best moisture resistance with only a 0.30% mass increase after 30 days of immersion.
• ABS: Showed a moderate and stable absorption rate of 0.96%.
• PLA: Absorbed the most water at 1.04%, as its organic structure is more hygroscopic.

Which Filament is Right for You?

• Choose PETG for functional, durable, and weather-resistant parts.
• Choose PLA for stiff prototypes, high-detail models, and eco-conscious projects.
• Choose ABS for high-impact mechanical components that require thermal resistance and post-print sanding.

Ready to start your next project? At madeby3dprinting.com, we use this data to ensure you get the perfect material for your specific high-speed printing needs.

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Source: Ekrem, M. & Yılmaz, M. (2025). Mechanical properties of PLA, PETG, and ABS samples printed on a high-speed 3D printer. Necmettin Erbakan University Journal of Science and Engineering.