3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS-CF vs ABS-ESD

Compare printing settings, strength, heat resistance, dated prices and sources.

Carbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF) guideESD-safe ABS guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS-CF comparisonsMore ABS-ESD comparisons
ABS-CF vs ABS-ESD — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF)ABSESD-safe ABSABS
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$35.99/kg median; $22.00–$125.00/kg across 7 dated product listings$102.50/kg median; $47.00–$166.67/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryABS reinforced with chopped carbon fibre[1]ABS compounded with a conductive carbon filler for static-dissipative parts[2]
Densityg/cm³1.11 (ISO 1183)[1]1.09 (ISO 1183)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 22–125; the middle of the market is about 36[3][4][5][6][7]1 kg-equivalent spools span 47–167; the middle of the market is about 103[3][8][9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg22–125 across brands; IEMAI 22, Siraya Tech 28 and 36 for the core-shell grade, YXPOLYER 35, Push Plastic 50 at 2 kg, 3DXTech 64 at 750 g; Stratasys-compatible cartridges run far higher[3][4][5][6][10][7]47–167 across brands; IEMAI 47, YXPOLYER 65, 3DXTech 140 at 750 g pricing; the EMI-shielding ABS grade runs 167[3][8][9]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[3][4]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[3]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools plus Stratasys-compatible cartridges[3][4]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools[3]
Typical applicationsStiff tooling and fixtures that must survive above 100 °C[1]Electronics handling fixtures, trays and jigs used around static-sensitive parts[2]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[11]Enclosure recommended[11]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[11][12]Clean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[11][12]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield; the fibre reduces warping against unfilled ABS[11]High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts[11]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[11]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[11]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[13]Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[11]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[11]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[11]Hardened steel required[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[11]Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech specifies a hardened nozzle of 0.4 mm minimum and 0.25 mm layers or higher, and Prusa lists composites as a higher clogging risk[14][15][16]Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for its ESD-ABS, only an 80 °C pre-dry[17]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[12]Slightly sensitive[12]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[12]No special hot-end required[12]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — the ABS matrix takes up 0.51–0.65 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 80 °C, 4 h pre-dry[18][19][14]Moderate — the ABS matrix takes up 0.51–0.65 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 80 °C, 4 h pre-dry[18][19][17]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[20]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[20]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; absorbed water flashes to steam in the hotend and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[20]Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; absorbed water flashes to steam in the hotend and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[20]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[20]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[20]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa46 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]58 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — the conductive filler raises strength above the unfilled grade's 42[2][21]
Young's modulusMPa5210 (printed XY, ISO 527) — more than double unfilled ABS[1]2130 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Elongation at break%2 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]4 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Flexural strengthMPa76 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]80 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa5260 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2275 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2 %[1]Moderate[2]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good — no creep test found; chopped carbon fibre restrains matrix flow and modulus rises to 5210 MPa against 2200–2330 for unfilled ABS[1][18][19]Moderate — no creep test found; Tg of 105 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[2]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 2 % against 10.5 % for unfilled ABS[1][18]Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break 4 %, well below unfilled ABS[2][21]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Thermal Properties
Glass transition (Tg)°C105 (DSC)[1]105 (DSC)[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K19–25 along the print bead and 80–84 in the build direction at 30 °C (20 wt% CF, large-format printed, TMA)[22]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[23]Good against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[23]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[13]Not food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[13]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[13]Not biodegradable[13]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[13]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[13]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (ASTM D257)[1]Surface resistance 10⁷–10⁹ ohm/sq, the static-dissipative band (ASTM D257), against above 10¹³ for unfilled ABS[2][21]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[24][11]High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[24][11]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[24]12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[24]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[24]2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[24]
Hazardous species emittedStyrene dominates. Bambu Lab states ABS and ASA release harmful gases such as styrene at printing temperature, which can be toxic and cause dizziness or nausea[24][11]Styrene dominates. Bambu Lab states ABS and ASA release harmful gases such as styrene at printing temperature, which can be toxic and cause dizziness or nausea[24][11]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[24][11]Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[24][11]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[1]Conductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[13]Sands well and takes filler before painting[13]
Painting & finishingPaints readily after light abrasion[13]Paints readily after light abrasion[13]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone smoothing is blunted by the fibre — only the resin fraction dissolves[23]Not documented
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[25][11]HIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[25][11]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves the resin and leaves the fibre as sludge; MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and chlorinated solvents do the same.[26][23]Acetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[26][23]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[26][27]Petrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[26][27]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour reaches only the resin fraction, so the fibre is left standing proud of the smoothed surface.[28][23]Acetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[28]

Material entries describe families or representative grades, not an interchangeable specification for every spool. Test methods, orientations and conditions may differ. Unknown values are marked “Not documented”. Prices and source dates remain historical snapshots; check the linked guide for product details. Differences highlight text, not a universal winner.

Sources for this comparison

  1. CarbonX Carbon Fiber ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. 3DXSTAT ESD-ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. IEMAI CF-ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ABS-CF Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. YXPOLYER ABS CF product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. IEMAI ESD-ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. YXPOLYER ABS ESD product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ABS-CF Core Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  13. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. CARBONX ABS+CF — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Carbon Fiber Filled — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  17. 3DXSTAT ESD-ABS — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  19. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  20. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  21. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  22. Effects of Fiber Orientation on the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Fiber-Filled Polymer Systems in Large Format Polymer Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing Materials 15(8):2764 · 2022-04 · paper
  23. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  24. Emissions of Ultrafine Particles and Volatile Organic Compounds from Commercially Available Desktop Three-Dimensional Printers with Multiple Filaments (Azimi et al.) Environmental Science & Technology 50(3) 1260-1268 · 2016-01 · paper
  25. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  27. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc