3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS-CF vs ABS-FR

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

Carbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF) guideFlame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS-CF comparisonsMore ABS-FR comparisons
ABS-CF vs ABS-FR — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF)ABSFlame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS)ABS
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$35.99/kg median; $22.00–$125.00/kg across 7 dated product listings$52.00/kg median; $44.99–$120.00/kg across 5 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryABS reinforced with chopped carbon fibre[1]ABS with a flame-retardant package; 3DXTech rates the base resin UL 94 V-0[2]
Densityg/cm³1.11 (ISO 1183)[1]1.18 (ISO 1183) — above unfilled ABS at 1.05 because of the retardant loading[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 22–125; the middle of the market is about 36[4][5][6][7][8]1 kg-equivalent spools span 45–120; the middle of the market is about 52[4][9][10][11]
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[4][5][6][7][12][8]45–120 across brands; SUNLU 45, YXPOLYER 50, Coex 3D 52, 3DXTech 107 at 750 g pricing; the FR PC/ABS grade runs 120[4][9][10][11]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[4][5]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[4]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools plus Stratasys-compatible cartridges[4][5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools[4]
Typical applicationsStiff tooling and fixtures that must survive above 100 °C[1]Electrical enclosures and transport interiors that must meet a flammability rating[2]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[13]Enclosure recommended[13]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[13][14]Clean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[13][14]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield; the fibre reduces warping against unfilled ABS[13]High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts[13]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[13]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[13]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[15]Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[15]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[13]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[13]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[13]Brass fine indefinitely[13]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[13]Non-abrasive[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[16][17][18]Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for its FR-ABS, only an 80 °C pre-dry[19]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[14]Slightly sensitive[14]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[14]No special hot-end required[14]
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[3][20][16]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[3][20][19]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[21]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[21]
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[21]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[21]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[21]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[21]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa46 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]45 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Young's modulusMPa5210 (printed XY, ISO 527) — more than double unfilled ABS[1]1990 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Elongation at break%2 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]4 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — well below the 10 % of unfilled 3DXTech ABS[2][22]
Flexural strengthMPa76 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]80 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa5260 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2250 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2 %[1]Moderate — elongation at break falls to 4 % from 10 % for the unfilled grade[2][22]
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][3][20]Moderate — no creep test found; Tg of 105 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[2][22]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 2 % against 10.5 % for unfilled ABS[1][3]Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 4 % against 10 % for unfilled 3DXTech ABS[2][22]
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)[23]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedUL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm, rated on the base resin rather than the printed part[2]
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[24]Good against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[24]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[15]Not food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[15]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[15]Not biodegradable[15]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[15]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[15]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (ASTM D257)[1]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[25][13]High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[25][13]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[25]12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[25]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[25]2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[25]
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[25][13]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[25][13]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[25][13]Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[25][13]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[15]Sands well and takes filler before painting[15]
Painting & finishingPaints readily after light abrasion[15]Paints readily after light abrasion[15]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone smoothing is blunted by the fibre — only the resin fraction dissolves[24]Not documented
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[26][13]HIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[26][13]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves the resin and leaves the fibre as sludge; MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and chlorinated solvents do the same.[27][24]Acetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[27][24]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[27][28]Petrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[27][28]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour reaches only the resin fraction, so the fibre is left standing proud of the smoothed surface.[29][24]Acetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[29]

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. Firewire Flame Retardant ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  4. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. IEMAI CF-ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ABS-CF Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. YXPOLYER ABS CF product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. SUNLU ABS-FR (ABS Flame Retardant) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. YXPOLYER ABS Flame-Retardant product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Flame Retardant Black ABS Coex 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ABS-CF Core Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. CARBONX ABS+CF — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Carbon Fiber Filled — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  19. FIREWIRE FR-ABS — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  21. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  22. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  23. 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
  24. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  25. 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
  26. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  27. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  28. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  29. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc