3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS-FR vs PA-CF ESD

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

Flame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS) guideESD-safe CF nylon guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS-FR comparisonsMore PA-CF ESD comparisons
ABS-FR vs PA-CF ESD — documented properties and sources
PropertyFlame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS)ABSESD-safe CF nylonPA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$52.00/kg median; $44.99–$120.00/kg across 5 dated product listings$129.98/kg median; $129.98–$129.98/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryABS with a flame-retardant package; 3DXTech rates the base resin UL 94 V-0[1]Carbon-filled polyamide compounded to a static-dissipative resistivity — Polymaker's grade uses a PA612 matrix[2]
Densityg/cm³1.18 (ISO 1183) — above unfilled ABS at 1.05 because of the retardant loading[1][3]1.10 (ISO 1183)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 45–120; the middle of the market is about 52[4][5][6][7]1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 130[8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg45–120 across brands; SUNLU 45, YXPOLYER 50, Coex 3D 52, 3DXTech 107 at 750 g pricing; the FR PC/ABS grade runs 120[4][5][6][7]130 at Polymaker's 0.5 kg pricing[8]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[4]Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools[4]1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[8]
Typical applicationsElectrical enclosures and transport interiors that must meet a flammability rating[1]Electronics jigs and trays that also need nylon toughness and heat resistance[2]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[9]Enclosure required (passive)[10]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[9][11]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[12][10]
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts[9]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[9]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[12]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[13]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[10]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[9]Expert / industrial hardware only[10][14]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[9]Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA612-ESD and recommends hardened steel or ruby[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[1]Highly abrasive — carbon-filled nylon composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA612-ESD[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for its FR-ABS, only an 80 °C pre-dry[15]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[14]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[11]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[12]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[11]May require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[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[3][16][15]High (0.8–2 %) — the PA612 matrix sits between PA6 and PA12[17][18]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[14]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[14]Polymaker publishes dry and wet printed blocks for PA612-ESD itself: at 4.64 % moisture tensile falls 84.3 → 73.6 MPa and modulus 4294 → 3731 MPa[2][18]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[14]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[14]
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[19][20]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa45 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]84.3 ± 2.3 printed XY dry (annealed 100 °C/16 h), 73.6 ± 2.3 conditioned to 4.64 % moisture, ISO 527[2]
Young's modulusMPa1990 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]4293.7 ± 116.4 printed XY dry and 3730.8 ± 156.2 conditioned, ISO 527[2]
Elongation at break%4 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — well below the 10 % of unfilled 3DXTech ABS[1][21]3.0 ± 0.1 printed XY dry and 4.2 ± 0.4 conditioned, ISO 527[2]
Flexural strengthMPa80 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa2250 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]Not documented
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented5.9 ± 0.4 printed XY dry and 4.9 ± 0.3 conditioned, ISO 179 notched[2]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 24.1 ± 2.4 printed XY and 4.5 ± 0.2 printed Z (ISO 179)[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented21.5 ± 2.7 printed Z dry — only a quarter of XY, the most anisotropic nylon composite here; 19.2 ± 1.6 conditioned[2]
Brittleness1–5Moderate — elongation at break falls to 4 % from 10 % for the unfilled grade[1][21]Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation 3.0 % in XY and 1.4 % in Z[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 conductive carbon-filled nylon filament[22]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no creep test found; Tg of 105 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[1][21]Good. Ensinger rates its PA66-CF30 compound for sustained static and dynamic load at 110 °C continuous service; the PA612 matrix here still takes up 4.64 % moisture at conditioning, which softens it[23][2]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 4 % against 10 % for unfilled 3DXTech ABS[1][21]Good. Ensinger states carbon-filled PA66 compounds have improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression[23]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented26 (printed Z against XY tensile)[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented157.0 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[2]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented125.4 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[2]
Glass transition (Tg)°C105 (DSC)[1]41.8 (DSC)[2]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented187.3 melting (DSC); Vicat 190.0 (ISO 306)[2]
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm, rated on the base resin rather than the printed part[1]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[19]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedMonths outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[10]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[24]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis[10]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[13]Not food-contact certified as filament[10]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[13]Not biodegradable[10]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[13]Not accepted in household plastic collection[10]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedStatic-dissipative — the reason the grade exists; Polymaker's insulating nylon composites sit above 10¹² ohm by contrast[2][17]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[25][9]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[25]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[25]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[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 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[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][9]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[25]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[25][9]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[25]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[19]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[13]Sands poorly — gums rather than powders[12]
Painting & finishingPaints readily after light abrasion[13]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[12]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[12]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[26][9]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[27][24]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[28]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[27][29]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[28]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[30]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[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. Firewire Flame Retardant ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Fiberon PA612-ESD Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2025-06 · tds
  3. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  4. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. SUNLU ABS-FR (ABS Flame Retardant) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. YXPOLYER ABS Flame-Retardant product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Flame Retardant Black ABS Coex 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  10. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  13. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. FIREWIRE FR-ABS — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  17. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  18. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  20. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  21. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  22. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  23. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  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. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  29. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  30. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc