3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

Conductive vs LW-PLA

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

Conductive filament guideLightweight / foaming PLA (LW-PLA) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore Conductive comparisonsMore LW-PLA comparisons
Conductive vs LW-PLA — documented properties and sources
PropertyConductive filamentSPECIALTYLightweight / foaming PLA (LW-PLA)PLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$170.36/kg median; $89.99–$796.00/kg across 4 dated product listings$47.48/kg median; $37.49–$50.00/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryA carbon-filled compound conductive by volume rather than merely dissipative; Proto-pasta's is PLA-based, Recreus's and NinjaTek's are TPU, and add:north's Koltron G1 does not state its base polymer[1][2][3][4]PLA with a blowing agent. Two distinct types: active-foaming grades that expand at the nozzle (Bambu Lab PLA Aero, colorFabb LW-PLA) and pre-foamed grades that do not (Polymaker PolyLite LW-PLA, PolyWood)[5][6][7][8]
Densityg/cm³Not documentedFilament 1.21 (Bambu Lab) and 1.24 (colorFabb); pre-foamed filament 0.8 (PolyWood, at 21.5 °C) and 0.9 (Polymaker LW-PLA); foamed prints reach 0.40[5][6][7][8]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 90–181 for the carbon-filled grades; add:north's Koltron G1 sits far above at 796 because it is sold only in 100 and 250 g coils[9][10][11]1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 45[12][6][13]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg90–796 across brands; Proto-pasta conductive PLA 90 at 1 kg, Recreus Conductive Filaflex 160 at 500 g, NinjaTek Eel 181 at 1 kg, add:north Koltron G1 796 at 250 g[9][2][10][11]37–50 across brands; Polymaker LW-PLA 37, Bambu Lab Aero 45, colorFabb 50, PolyWood 50[13][12][6]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[9][2]Available from several mainstream brands[12][13][6]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 kg spools[9][2][10][11]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.6, 0.75, 0.8 and 1 kg spools[13][6]
Typical applicationsCapacitive touch surfaces, low-current traces, EMI shielding and static-safe fixtures[1]RC aircraft, drone airframes and large props where mass matters more than strength[5][6]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented210–260 (Bambu Lab, foaming); 195–260 (colorFabb, foaming); 190–210 (Polymaker, pre-foamed)[5][6][7]
Bed temperature°CNot documented35–45 (Bambu Lab); 50–60 (colorFabb); 25–60 (Polymaker)[5][6][7]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1]Open frame is fine[7]
Part cooling fanNot documentedFan on[5][7]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented3.2–8 at the 40–100 mm/s colorFabb specifies and the 50–100 mm/s Polymaker specifies, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[7][6][14]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[1]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; flow has to be cut to match the expansion[6]
Extruder requirementNot documentedBambu Lab PLA Aero is 0.4 mm nozzle only on the store and wiki, while its own TDS lists 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8[5][15]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[1]Brass fine indefinitely[7][8]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[1]Non-abrasive[7][8]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — Proto-pasta states the carbon-filled grade prints on standard PLA settings with no special nozzle required[1]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; Bambu Lab warns the foamed extrudate swells and easily clogs the nozzle, and rules out 0.2 mm nozzles[15]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedModerate — 0.45 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.40 % equilibrium (Polymaker)[5][7]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.45 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.40 equilibrium (Polymaker)[5][7]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented55 °C for 6–8 h[5][7]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; absorbed water flashes to steam and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[16]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures for this grade; absorbed water flashes to steam and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[16]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented24 ± 2 (Bambu Lab) and 24.4 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527; colorFabb falls from 43.1 unfoamed to 10.8 at 45 % flow[5][7][6]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented1350 ± 250 (Bambu Lab) and 1689 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527; colorFabb falls from 3334 unfoamed to 864 foamed[5][7][6]
Elongation at break%Not documented2.6 ± 0.7 (Bambu Lab) and 8.8 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527[5][7]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented45 ± 4 (Bambu Lab) and 50.2 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 178[5][7]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented1690 ± 120 (Bambu Lab) and 1959 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 178[5][7]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented8.2 ± 0.7 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab); colorFabb 3.67 foamed[5][6]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 28.8 printed XY (Bambu Lab); colorFabb 5.46 foamed[5][6]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented18 ± 3 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); flexural Z collapses to 17 against 45 in XY[5]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; carbon-black loading at conductive levels embrittles PLA[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2.6 % in XY and 1.2 % in Z[5]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedPoor — no foamed-grade creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, and the foam carries less solid[17][18][19]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedPoor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength and elongation at break falls to 2.6 % in XY and 1.2 % in Z[20][5]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[5]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented75 by tensile, 38 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented53 (Bambu Lab) and 54 (Polymaker), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[5][7]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented48 (Bambu Lab) and 50 (Polymaker), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[5][7]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented55 (Bambu Lab) and 59 (Polymaker), DSC[5][7]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented150 peak melt (Polymaker, DSC); Vicat 60 °C[7]
Annealing responseNot documentedBambu Lab advises against annealing thin, low-infill Aero prints[5]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors[21]
Electrical & ESD propertiesConductive rather than dissipative — Proto-pasta sells the grade as electrically conductive composite PLA[1]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[22]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[22]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[22]None needed in a normal room[22]
Dust & fibre handling hazardConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedFoamed surfaces are rough and matte; dimensional accuracy depends on holding the foaming temperature steady[5][6]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inChloroform dissolves PLA-based grades, leaving the carbon black; TPU-based grades need DMF, NMP or THF. Laboratory reagents.[23][24]Chloroform dissolves the PLA matrix; the foamed wall wicks solvent right through instead of only skinning over.[23]
Softened or crazed byAcetone and ethyl acetate plasticise a PLA-based grade; a TPU-based grade swells in toluene, esters and alcohols.[23][24]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts.[23][25]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — neither PLA nor TPU has a workshop-safe welding or smoothing solvent.[23][24]Chloroform vapour reaches only the resin skin; no workshop-safe smoothing agent exists for PLA of any kind.[26][25]

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. Electrically Conductive Composite PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Recreus product catalogue Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  3. Eel 3D Printing Filament Technical Specifications NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Koltron G1 Technical Data Sheet add:north · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V4.0 — PLA Aero Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. LW-PLA technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  7. PolyLite LW-PLA Technical Data Sheet (V7.0) Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  8. PolyWood Technical Data Sheet Version 4.0 (Nov 2018) Polymaker (copy hosted by 3Dee) · 2018-11 · tds
  9. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Eel product page — durometer, print guidelines and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. add:north Koltron G1 product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. PLA Aero — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  15. PLA Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  18. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  19. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  20. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  21. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  22. 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
  23. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  24. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  25. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Effect of vapour smoothing in trichloromethane on 3D printed PLA — surface, mechanical and chemical structure Pitale, Keche & Chopra, Engineering Research Express 6(4) 045579 · 2024-12 · paper