3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS-FR vs PC

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

Flame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS) guidePolycarbonate (PC) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS-FR comparisonsMore PC comparisons
ABS-FR vs PC — documented properties and sources
PropertyFlame-retardant ABS (FR-ABS)ABSPolycarbonate (PC)PC
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$52.00/kg median; $44.99–$120.00/kg across 5 dated product listings$39.99/kg median; $29.99–$92.00/kg across 9 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryABS with a flame-retardant package; 3DXTech rates the base resin UL 94 V-0[1]Bisphenol-A polycarbonate — an amorphous engineering thermoplastic[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.18 (ISO 1183) — above unfilled ABS at 1.05 because of the retardant loading[1][4]1.19 (Polymaker) to 1.22 (Prusament), ISO 1183; Bambu Lab 1.20; Stratasys specific gravity 1.20 (ASTM D792)[2][5][6][7]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 45–120; the middle of the market is about 52[8][9][10][11]1 kg spools cluster near 40[6][12][13]
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[8][9][10][11]30–92 across brands; Polymaker PolyLite 30, Bambu Lab 40, Polymaker PolyMax 52, Prusament 59, 3DXTech ezPC 64 and 3DXMAX PC 92[12][6][13][8]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[8]Available from several mainstream brands[6][12][8][13]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools[8]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 0.9, 1 and 3 kg spools[12][8][13]
Typical applicationsElectrical enclosures and transport interiors that must meet a flammability rating[1]Light guides, lenses, under-bonnet automotive parts and impact-loaded housings that must hold shape above 110 °C[3][2]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.03 (Prusament PC Blend)[5]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented250–280 across brands; Prusament 275 ± 10, Bambu Lab 260–280, Polymaker 250–270. Polymaker's material guide gives a wider 260–310 for PC and its composites[5][6][2][3]
Bed temperature°CNot documented90–115; Prusament 110 ± 10, Bambu Lab 90–110, Polymaker 90–105[5][6][2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[14]Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker specifies a 70–100 °C chamber, Bambu Lab 45–60 °C and rules out its P1P and A-series machines[2][6][14]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented70–100 (Polymaker); 45–60 (Bambu Lab)[2][6]
Part cooling fanNot documentedOff or very low — Polymaker specifies off, Prusament 20 % within a 0–30 % range, Bambu Lab 0–60 %[2][5][6]
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue; Simplify3D also lists Kapton tape and ABS slurry[14][15]Textured PEI with glue when needed (Polymaker); smooth or textured PEI (Bambu Lab)[2][16]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented24 at Bambu Lab's 300 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer; Polymaker allows 50–200 mm/s and its material guide advises 30–60 for layer adhesion[6][2][3][17]
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts[14]Severe — heated chamber needed[2][3][14]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[14]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[2][14]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — Polymaker advises 1–2 mm retraction at 20–30 mm/s[18]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[3]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[14]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[3][14]
Extruder requirementNot documentedAll-metal hotend rated to 300 °C; Polymaker advises larger nozzles and high chamber temperatures to improve bonding[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[14]Brass fine indefinitely[14]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[1]Non-abrasive[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[19]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[3]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[15]Slightly sensitive[20]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[15]All-metal hot end required (Simplify3D); Polymaker advises a hot end rated above 300 °C[20][3]
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[4][21][19]Low — 0.25 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); Prusa measures 0.15 % after 7 days at 22 % RH. Polymaker nonetheless calls PC highly hygroscopic in service[6][5][3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.25 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.15 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa)[6][5]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab); 75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker); 70–80 °C for 6–8 h (Polymaker material guide)[6][2][3]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[22]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[22]
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[22]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published. Polymaker calls PC highly hygroscopic and requires a 70–80 °C dry for 6–8 h; run wet, the loss shows as surface defects and poor layer adhesion[3][22]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity[22]Airtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[3]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa45 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]53.4 (PolyMax) to 69.1 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 527; Bambu Lab 62 +/- 2 and Prusament 63 +/- 1 at yield; Stratasys 62.3-64.6 at yield printed XZ, ASTM D638 (its PC White table duplicates the Antero 840CN03 figures and was not used)[2][23][6][5][24][7]
Young's modulusMPa1990 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2110 (Bambu Lab) to 2497 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 527; Prusament 1900, 3DXTech 2180[6][2][5][24]
Elongation at break%4 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — well below the 10 % of unfilled 3DXTech ABS[1][25]3.8 (Bambu Lab) to 4.8 (PolyLite) at break, printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 14 at break, Prusament 5.8 at yield[6][2][24][5]
Flexural strengthMPa80 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]81.3 (PolyMax) to 108 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 178; Prusament 88 ± 1, PolyLite 106.1[23][6][5][2]
Flexural modulusMPa2250 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2050 (PolyMax) to 2640 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 178; Prusament 2100[23][2][5]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented4.1 (PolyLite) to 21.3 (PolyMax) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; Prusament 12 ± 1[2][23][5]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched does not break on Prusa's pendulum in either orientation (ISO 179-1); PolyMax PC retains 9.2 kJ/m2 notched at -30 °C. Stratasys PC Black gives 85.3 MPa flexural strength at break in ZX against no break in XZ (ASTM D790, printed)[5][23][7]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented37.1-45.3 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys PC Black and Red, ASTM D638); 41.4 (PolyMax) to 56 (Bambu Lab) printed Z; Prusa's interlayer adhesion test gives 21 +/- 2[5][23][6][7]
Brittleness1–5Moderate — elongation at break falls to 4 % from 10 % for the unfilled grade[1][25]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[3][5]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedShore D 79 (Prusa Polymers method) and Shore D 79 on extruded PC stock (ASTM D2240); Rockwell 70 (118) — the source does not name the scales[5][26]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no creep test found; Tg of 105 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[1][25]Excellent — holds load for years. Room-temperature tensile creep of moulded PC was still running unbroken at 41 MPa when the experiment was stopped for time; specimens failed within the test window only at 47-52 MPa (ASTM D638)[27]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve found; elongation at break falls to 4 % against 10 % for unfilled 3DXTech ABS[1][25]Good[5][3]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented59-73 (Stratasys PC Black and Red, ZX against XZ tensile yield, ASTM D638); 76 for PolyLite PC and 90 for Bambu Lab (printed Z against XY tensile)[6][2][7]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented110 (PolyMax PC-FR) to 114 (PolyMax PC), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa; Bambu Lab 112, PolyLite 111, Prusament 113. Stratasys FDM PC reaches 144 printed (ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi)[23][2][6][5][7]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented93 (Prusament) to 117 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; PolyLite 107, PolyMax 99. Stratasys FDM PC reaches 141 printed (ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi)[5][6][2][23][7]
Glass transition (Tg)°C105 (DSC)[1]113 (Polymaker, DSC), 142.5 (Stratasys, ASTM D7426 inflection point) and 145 (Bambu Lab, DSC); Polymaker's material guide quotes 150[2][6][3][7]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 117–120 (Polymaker, ISO 306); decomposition above 360 °C[2][23]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend; extruded PC stock is rated 121 long term (converted from 250 °F)[5][26]
Annealing responseNot documented90 °C for 2 h (Polymaker)[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented51.6 in XY over -50 to 30 °C, falling to 35.8 over 30-75 °C and 11.5 over 75-130 °C; 49.2 in XZ over -50 to 120 °C (printed, ASTM E831). Extruded PC stock gives 68.4 (ASTM D696)[7][26]
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 on standard PC, though V-0 grades exist[28][2]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors — unstabilised PC yellows and embrittles under UV[3]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; dissolved by acetone[29]Withstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[3]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — minor absorption[6]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[18]Bisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[3]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Not biodegradable[3]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[18]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[3]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — an electrical insulator, which Polymaker lists as a headline advantage[24][3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[30][14]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]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[30]≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[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][14]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[30][14]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[30][14]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler before painting[18]Sands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[20]
Painting & finishingPaints readily after light abrasion[18]Optical clarity survives printing, so transparent parts are usually left unpainted[3]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[20]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[20]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[31][14]Prints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[20]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedWarping is the dominant accuracy limit; light transmission 89 % on PolyLite PC (GB/T 2410)[2][3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[32][29]Dichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). 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]Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[33]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[35]Dichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[36]

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. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  3. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  6. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  7. PC (Polycarbonate) — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2026-04 · tds
  8. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 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. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — PC FR Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  17. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  18. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. FIREWIRE FR-ABS — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  22. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. PolyMax PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  24. ezPC Polycarbonate Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  25. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  26. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  27. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  28. PolyMax PC-FR Technical Data Sheet V5.5 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  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. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  34. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  35. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  36. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds