3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS-CF vs PA12-GF

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

Carbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF) guideGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS-CF comparisonsMore PA12-GF comparisons
ABS-CF vs PA12-GF — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre ABS (ABS-CF)ABSGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$35.99/kg median; $22.00–$125.00/kg across 7 dated product listings$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryABS reinforced with chopped carbon fibre[1]PA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[2]
Densityg/cm³1.11 (ISO 1183)[1]1.23 (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 46–140; the middle of the market is about 88[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]46–140 across brands; IEMAI 3D 46, 3DXTech 131 at 750 g and 130 at 2 kg, PrimaCreator NylonPower Glass Fiber 140 at 500 g[3][8][9]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[3][4]Available from several mainstream brands[3][8]
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; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[3][9]
Typical applicationsStiff tooling and fixtures that must survive above 100 °C[1]Stiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[2][11]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[12]Enclosure required (passive)[13]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[12][14]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[15][13]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield; the fibre reduces warping against unfilled ABS[12]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[12]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[15]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[16]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[12]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[13]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[12]Hardened steel required — no nozzle-life figure is published for a PA12-GF30 grade; Polymaker measures about 9 h of brass nozzle life on its comparable fibre-filled nylons[17]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[12]Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[17]
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[18][19][20]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[21]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[14]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[15]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[14]May require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[15]
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[22][23][18]High (0.8–2 %) — the PA12 matrix takes up far less than PA6, on the evidence of Polymaker's 1.5 % for PA12-CF10 against 3.33 % for PA6-GF25[24][25]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[21]Not documented
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's PA12 grades change little between wet and dry, unlike PA6; the CoPA dry-to-wet blocks show the PA6-type response[11][26]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[21]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[21]
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureNot documentedPolymaker specifies an 80–100 °C dry and storage below 20 % RH; no molecular-weight loss figure is published, and the wet data it does publish is conditioning rather than melt hydrolysis[17][26]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa46 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Young's modulusMPa5210 (printed XY, ISO 527) — more than double unfilled ABS[1]7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Elongation at break%2 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[2][25]
Flexural strengthMPa76 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa5260 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2 %[1]Moderate[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedRockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a glass-fibre PA12 filament[27]
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][22][23]Good. Ensinger lists high creep resistance for extruded PA66-GF30 stock, and the PA12 matrix absorbs far less water than PA6, so a PA12-GF part holds load better in a humid environment[27][13]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 2 % against 10.5 % for unfilled ABS[1][22]Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[27]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Thermal Properties
Glass transition (Tg)°C105 (DSC)[1]Not documented
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)[28]48.6 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D696; source states 2.7e-5 in/in/°F) — no figure is published for a glass-fibre PA12 filament[27]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[17]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedMonths outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[13]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[29]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis[13]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[11]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[16]Not food-contact certified as filament[13]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[16]Not biodegradable[13]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[16]Not accepted in household plastic collection[13]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (ASTM D257)[1]Surface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[30][12]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[30]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[30]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[30]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[30]≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[30]
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[30][12]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[30]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[30][12]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[30]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[1]Glass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[16]Sands poorly — gums rather than powders[15]
Painting & finishingPaints readily after light abrasion[16]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[15]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone smoothing is blunted by the fibre — only the resin fraction dissolves[29]No practical vapour smoothing[15]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[31][12]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves the resin and leaves the fibre as sludge; MEK, THF, ethyl acetate and chlorinated solvents do the same.[32][29]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[33]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[32][34]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[33]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone vapour reaches only the resin fraction, so the fibre is left standing proud of the smoothed surface.[35][29]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[33]

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. FibreX PA12-GF30 Technical Data Sheet v1.0 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 3D GF-PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower Glass Fiber product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Siraya Tech Fibreheart ABS-CF Core Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  16. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  18. CARBONX ABS+CF — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Carbon Fiber Filled — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  23. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  24. Fiberon PA12-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-02 · tds
  25. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  26. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  27. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  28. 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
  29. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  30. 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
  31. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  32. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  33. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  34. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  35. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc