How does a material's tensile strength influence its suitability for load-bearing applications in 3D printing?

A material's tensile strength directly indicates its suitability for load-bearing applications in 3D printing. Tensile strength is a measure of a material's resistance to being pulled apart or stretched under tension. It is typically expressed in units of pressure, such as MPa (megapascals) or psi (pounds per square inch). A material with a higher tensile strength can withstand greater tensile forces before it begins to deform permanently or fracture. Therefore, for applications where a 3D printed part will be subjected to significant pulling or stretching forces, a material with high tensile strength is essential. For example, if designing a hook to hold a certain weight, one should select a material that can withstand at least 2x the force applied by the weight being held. A lower tensile strength material would be more prone to failure under the same load.