3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

ABS vs PA6-CF

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

ABS guideCarbon-fibre PA6 (PA6-CF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore ABS comparisonsMore PA6-CF comparisons
ABS vs PA6-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyABSABSCarbon-fibre PA6 (PA6-CF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$19.99/kg median; $11.99–$45.00/kg across 16 dated product listings$62.48/kg median; $39.00–$133.32/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryAcrylonitrile butadiene styrene — a styrenic terpolymer with a butadiene rubber phase[1][2]PA6 reinforced with chopped carbon fibre — Polymaker's grade is 20 wt%[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.04 (Polymaker PolyLite ABS and ABS Pro) to 1.06 (ABS Max), ISO 1183; Bambu Lab 1.05[5][1][6][7]1.09 (Bambu Lab), 1.17 (Polymaker Fiberon and 3DXTech), ISO 1183[4][3][8]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 20[9][10][11][12][13]1 kg-equivalent spools span 39–133; the middle of the market is about 80[4][10][14][15]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg12–45 across brands; IEMAI 12, SUNLU 12 at a 3 kg minimum, ELEGOO 15 in a 5 kg pack, Polymaker 19, YXPOLYER 20, Bambu Lab 20, Push Plastic 25, 3DXTech 45[9][10][16][17][11][12][13][18]39–133 across brands; IEMAI 3D 39, Bambu Lab 43, YXPOLYER 45, Polymaker Fiberon 80, 3DXTech CarbonX 83, Obsidian 133[4][10][19][16][14][15]
Market availability1–5Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[9][10][16][17]Stocked by most mainstream brands[4][10][16][19][14][15]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1, 5 and 10 kg spools[16][17]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 2 kg spools[10][16][4]
Typical applicationsEnclosures, automotive interior parts and tooling that must hold shape above PLA's 55 °C ceiling[1][20]Load-bearing brackets, tooling and drone frames that must hold strength above 150 °C[4][3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C240–270 (Bambu Lab); 245–265 (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]260–290 (Bambu Lab); 280–300 (Polymaker Fiberon)[4][3]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Bambu Lab); 90–100 (Polymaker)[5][1]40–50 (Polymaker Fiberon)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Polymaker calls a chamber needed at ambient temperature, Bambu Lab requires an enclosed printer and rules out its P1P and A-series machines[1][21]Enclosure required (passive) — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber, Polymaker room temperature[4][3]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[5]45–60 (Bambu Lab); room temperature (Polymaker Fiberon)[4][3]
Part cooling fan0–80 % (Bambu Lab); off (Polymaker PolyLite)[5][1]Not documented
Bed surface & adhesion aidClean the plate and apply glue — Bambu Lab lists glue as the way to improve adhesion and prevent warping[21]Engineering or high-temperature plate with glue (Bambu Lab)[4]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s10–16 (PrusaSlicer guidance for ABS/ASA)[22]8 at Bambu Lab's 100 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer; Polymaker rates its grade to 300 mm/s[4][3][22]
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts; Bambu Lab attributes surface cracking to cooling stress exceeding interlayer adhesion[21]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[21]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[4]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight[1]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[23]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[21][1]Expert / industrial hardware only — enclosure, hardened nozzle, an 80 °C dry and a printer that can hold the filament dry throughout[4][3][24]
Extruder requirementNot documented0.6 mm nozzle recommended by Bambu Lab; 0.4 and 0.8 also supported[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[21]Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA6-CF20 and recommends hardened steel or ruby[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[21]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — no special hot-end required and clogging is not among the listed drawbacks; Prusa lists no drybox and no hardened nozzle[25][26]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; the combination of moisture and fibre is the worst case in the dataset[24][3]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[25]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[27]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[25]Hardened steel or ruby nozzle plus an all-metal hot end rated to 300 °C[3][4]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.65 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); Polymaker measures 0.51 % maximum uptake for ABS Pro[5][6]Very high (>2 %) — 2.35 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.65 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.51 maximum (Polymaker ABS Pro)[5][6]2.35 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[4]
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab); 70 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)[5][1]80 °C for 8–12 h (Bambu Lab); 100 °C for 10 h (Polymaker Fiberon)[4][3]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[24]Popping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[28]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; the loss appears as poor layer adhesion and surface defects rather than a stated strength delta[24]Polymaker publishes dry and wet printed blocks for PA6-CF20 itself: at 5.30 % moisture tensile falls 109.3 → 54.7 MPa and modulus 8636 → 2508 MPa, while notched Charpy rises 11.0 → 35.6 kJ/m². Fibre reinforcement reduces but does not remove the effect[3][28]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and advises periodic drying in humid climates[24]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant; often needs to stay in a dryer while printing[24]
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[3][29]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa33 ± 3 (Bambu Lab) to 35 (Polymaker ABS Pro and Max) printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 42 at break[5][6][7][30]102 ± 7 (Bambu Lab) and 109.3 ± 2.4 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry/annealed) printed XY, ISO 527; the Fiberon grade falls to 54.7 ± 1.1 conditioned to 5.30 % moisture; 3DXTech quotes 63 at break[4][3][8]
Young's modulusMPa2200 ± 190 (Bambu Lab) to 2330 (Polymaker ABS Pro) printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 1950[5][6][30]4430 ± 310 (Bambu Lab) and 8636 ± 211 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry/annealed) printed XY, ISO 527; Fiberon falls to 2508 ± 83 conditioned; 3DXTech quotes 3800[4][3][8]
Elongation at break%6.7 (ABS Max) to 10.5 (Bambu Lab) at break, printed XY, ISO 527[5][6][7]5.8 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 3 at break[4][8]
Flexural strengthMPa60 (ABS Pro) to 63 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178; Bambu Lab 62 ± 4; 3DXTech quotes 76[5][6][7][30]161.0 ± 3.9 printed XY dry, 64.9 ± 4.9 conditioned, ISO 178 (Polymaker Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 84[3][8]
Flexural modulusMPa1880 ± 110 (Bambu Lab) to 2500 (ABS Max) printed XY, ISO 178[5][7]7038 ± 205 printed XY dry and 2286 ± 185 conditioned, ISO 178 (Polymaker Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 3750[3][8]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²10.5 (ABS Max) and 14.5 (ABS Pro) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; PolyLite ABS 18.0 ± 0.9 and Bambu Lab 21.5 ± 2.2[1][6][7][5]11.0 ± 0.3 printed XY dry and 35.6 ± 1.2 conditioned, ISO 179 notched (Polymaker Fiberon)[3]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 39.3 ± 3.6 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179); notched 21.5 ± 2.2[5]Charpy unnotched 24.0 ± 1.0 printed XY dry and 73.0 ± 2.0 conditioned, 7.5 ± 2.7 printed Z dry (Polymaker Fiberon); Bambu Lab 40.3 ± 2.5 unnotched, 13.4 ± 1.7 notched[3][4]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21.9 (ABS Pro) to 29.7 (PolyLite) printed Z, ISO 527; Bambu Lab 28 ± 2[5][1][6]48 ± 6 (Bambu Lab) and 54.0 ± 5.2 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry) printed Z, ISO 527; Fiberon falls to 25.5 ± 1.2 conditioned[4][3]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[5][1]Moderate[4][3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedRockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a carbon-fibre nylon filament[31]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no printed-ABS creep test found; Tg of 101–126 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening, unlike PLA[1][6][7]Good. Ensinger rates its PA66-CF30 injection-moulding compound for exceptional performance under both static and dynamic loading with 110 °C continuous service; in a printed part the fibre restrains the matrix, but conditioning to equilibrium moisture still softens it[32][28]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no printed-ABS S-N curve found; 10.5 % elongation and 21.5 kJ/m² notched Charpy give far more cyclic tolerance than PLA[5][33]Good. Ensinger states its PA66-CF30 compound has improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression against unfilled and glass-filled PA66[32]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[5]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%85 (Bambu Lab, printed Z against XY tensile); 63 for Polymaker ABS Pro[5][6]47 (Bambu Lab) to 49 (Polymaker Fiberon), printed[4][3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C87 (Bambu Lab) to 118 (Polymaker ABS Max), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa; PolyLite ABS 100[5][1][7]186 (Bambu Lab) and 215 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[4][3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C84 (Bambu Lab) to 113 (Polymaker ABS Max), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; PolyLite ABS 98[5][1][7]164 (Bambu Lab) and 173 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[4][3]
Glass transition (Tg)°C101 (PolyLite) to 126 (ABS Max), DSC; 105 quoted by 3DXTech[1][7][30]68 (Bambu Lab) to 74.2 (Polymaker Fiberon), DSC; 3DXTech quotes 70[4][3][8]
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 104 (PolyLite) to 127 (ABS Max), ISO 306[1][7]223 melting (Bambu Lab, DSC); Vicat 212 (ISO 306)[4]
Continuous service temperature°C101 measured on a loaded glass-filled ABS bar (My Tech Fun); unfilled ABS is bounded by its 84–98 °C heat deflection[34][5][1]Bounded by heat deflection of 164–173 °C at 1.8 MPa; no loaded-bar service figure is published[4][3]
Annealing responseDecomposition above 380 °C (PolyLite ABS, TGA)[1]100 °C for 16 h (Polymaker Fiberon)[3]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K86 ± 3 at 0° and 89 ± 3 at 90° raster (printed, fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C); 82 for a neat large-format bead at 30 °C[35][36]94 in the XY direction and 180 in Z, measured on XY-built specimens (79 and 148 on XZ/ZX-built specimens), room temperature to 60 °C, ASTM E831. From Stratasys FDM Nylon-CF10, a blended-nylon matrix with 10 wt% carbon fibre — the closest published printed CTE for a carbon-fibre nylon[37]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard ABS, though V-0 grades exist[38][5]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[3]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement[20]Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows and chalks under UV[23]
Chemical resistanceGood against weak acids, weak alkalis, oils and grease; poor against strong acids; dissolved by acetone[1]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis[23]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption[5]Absorbs water, properties shift[28]
Food contactNot food safe — Polymaker cites potential chemical leaching[20]Not food-contact certified[23]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[20]Not biodegradable[23]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable as resin code 9, but not accepted in household plastic collection[20]Fibre-filled polyamide is not accepted in household plastic collection[23]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[30]Surface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[8]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[39][21]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[39]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the dominant VOC from every ABS and HIPS combination tested[39]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[39]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min2 × 10¹⁰ to 9 × 10¹⁰ median across all ABS printers, two orders of magnitude above PLA's ≈1 × 10⁸[39]≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[39]
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[39][21]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[39]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration — an enclosure alone cut measured UFP by only about 35 %[39][21]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[39]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[3]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands well and takes filler; the usual preparation before painting[20]Sands to a matte finish; the fibre makes it cut more cleanly than unfilled nylon[27]
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with acetone[1]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[27]
Vapour / chemical smoothingAcetone vapour smoothing works — ABS dissolves in acetone[1]No practical vapour smoothing[27]
Support material pairingHIPS breaks away or dissolves in d-limonene; Bambu Lab sells a dedicated Support for ABS[40][21]PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker Fiberon)[3]
Dimensional accuracy & detailWarping and cooling-stress cracking are the accuracy limits, not shrinkage of the melt[21]Conditioned parts grow; Polymaker declines to publish a standard dimensional allowance because it depends on geometry and infill[28]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAcetone dissolves it — the basis of ABS slurry; so do MEK, THF, ethyl acetate, chloroform, dichloromethane and toluene.[41][1]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[42]
Softened or crazed byPetrol and perchloroethylene soften it and benzene attacks it; d-limonene disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades.[41][43]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[42]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentAcetone: about 20 min of vapour at 80 °C over 5 mm of liquid. Prusa measured layer adhesion more than doubled.[44]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[42]

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. PolyLite ABS Technical Data Sheet (V5.5 served at this URL) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  2. Safety Data Sheet SDS20250724B00 — Bambu ABS Bambu Lab · 2025-07 · msds
  3. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PA6-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — ABS Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Polymaker ABS Pro Technical Data Sheet V1 (2026-05-29) Polymaker · 2026-05 · tds
  7. Polymaker ABS Max Technical Data Sheet V1.1 (2026-06-01) Polymaker · 2026-06 · tds
  8. CarbonX Carbon Fiber Nylon (Gen3) Technical Data Sheet v3.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  9. ABS — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. SUNLU ABS 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. IEMAI ABS 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. YXPOLYER PA6 CF-Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. IEMAI 3D CF-PA6 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. YXPOLYER ABS Squirrel Grey product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  21. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  23. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  27. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  29. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  30. 3DXMAX ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  31. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  32. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  33. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  34. ABS-GF vs PET-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  35. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  36. 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
  37. FDM Nylon-CF10 — Material Data Sheet (blended nylon, 10 wt% carbon fibre) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  38. Firewire Flame Retardant ABS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  39. 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
  40. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  41. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  42. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  43. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  44. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc