3D printing is any of various processes in which material is joined or solidified to create a 3D object. 3D printing filament is created using a process of heating, extruding and cooling plastic to transform nurdles into the finished product.

Various materials are used for 3D printing, most commonly Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) filament, Polylactic acid (PLA) filament, Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polypropylene (PP). These 3d printing materials differ mainly in their melting point, which significantly influences the properties of the final products. Filaments are melted in the print head during the printing process. The temperature range is from 150 °C to 250 °C depending on the technology used. The optimum temperature for the cooling substrate on which printing is carried out is chosen so as to ensure uniform cooling and deformation. It generally varies between (40 – 100) °C. It is clear that both temperatures can significantly affect the properties of the printed 3D object.

It is therefore significant to determine the thermal properties (thermal conductivity, specific heat and thermal diffusivity) of the materials used across a wide range of temperatures.