High Impact Polystyrene — the soluble support material that pairs perfectly with ABS. Dissolves cleanly in d-Limonene, leaving complex prints with perfect support removal.
Nozzle Temp
230–245°C
Bed Temp
100–115°C
Dissolves In
d-Limonene
Pairs With
ABS
HIPS (High Impact Polystyrene) is a rigid thermoplastic that prints similarly to ABS but has one key advantage: it dissolves in d-Limonene, a safe citrus-based solvent.
On dual-extruder printers, HIPS is the ideal support material for ABS: both materials print at similar temperatures (230–245°C), bond well together, and after printing you simply submerge the part in limonene to dissolve away all supports — leaving perfect, impossible-to-manually-remove geometries intact.
HIPS can also be used as a standalone material — it's lighter than ABS, slightly less heat-resistant, and accepts styrene-based paints and adhesives well.
| Property | HIPS | PVA |
|---|---|---|
| Dissolves in | d-Limonene | Water |
| Pairs best with | ABS | PLA, PETG |
| Print temp | 230–245°C | 190–210°C |
| Humidity sensitivity | Low — stores well | High — absorbs moisture fast |
| Dissolution time | 30 min – 4 hours | 1–8 hours in water |
| Safety | Limonene is mild (citrus) | Water — perfectly safe |
| Price | $25–35/kg | $35–60/kg |
| Setting | HIPS as Support | HIPS Standalone |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle Temp | 230–245°C (match ABS) | 230–245°C |
| Bed Temp | 100–115°C | 100–115°C |
| Print Speed | 40–60 mm/s | 40–60 mm/s |
| Enclosure | Required (same as ABS) | Required |
| Cooling Fan | 0–20% | 0–20% |
| Bed Surface | PEI / Glass + ABS slurry | PEI / Glass + ABS slurry |
| Interface Layers | 2–3 layers at 0.2mm | N/A |
Get d-Limonene
Available online (Amazon, specialty chemical suppliers). Buy 99%+ purity for best results. Not the same as cleaning products with limonene — you need concentrated d-Limonene.
Submerge the print
Place the finished print in a sealable container with enough limonene to cover all supports. Do NOT use polystyrene containers — limonene dissolves them.
Wait 30 minutes to 4 hours
Thin supports dissolve in 30 min. Thick supports may take 4+ hours. Agitate the container periodically or use an ultrasonic cleaner to speed up dissolution.
Rinse with IPA
After HIPS dissolves, rinse the print thoroughly with isopropyl alcohol to remove limonene residue. Let it dry fully before post-processing.
Reuse the limonene
Saturated limonene (cloudy with dissolved HIPS) can still work. Filter out solids and reuse until it stops dissolving. Dispose of spent limonene at a chemical waste facility.
Beyond supports, HIPS is a capable printing material in its own right:
Lighter than ABS (~1.04 g/cm³ vs 1.05)
Good impact resistance (name says it all)
Accepts spray paint well (model-grade paints)
Sandable and acetone-smoothable
Cheaper than ABS in many brands
Requires enclosure — warps like ABS
Strong styrene odor when printing
Lower heat resistance than ABS (~85°C vs 95°C)
Not UV resistant — yellows outdoors
Limited color options vs PLA/PETG