3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

Conductive vs PC-GF

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

Conductive filament guideGlass-fibre PC (PC-GF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore Conductive comparisonsMore PC-GF comparisons
Conductive vs PC-GF — documented properties and sources
PropertyConductive filamentSPECIALTYGlass-fibre PC (PC-GF)PC
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$170.36/kg median; $89.99–$796.00/kg across 4 dated product listings$71.27/kg median; $71.27–$71.27/kg across 1 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]Polycarbonate reinforced with 30 wt% short glass fibre[5]
Densityg/cm³Not documented1.17 (measured on a 100 % infill printed part, ISO 1183-A)[5]
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[6][7][8]1 kg spools cluster near 71[9]
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[6][2][7][8]71 — BASF Ultrafuse PC GF30 at igo3d is the only priced listing found; Owens Corning sells XSTRAND GF30-PC in 500 g and 1 kg[9][5]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[6][2]Niche, a handful of specialist brands — neither Polymaker's nor 3DXTech's polycarbonate range contains a glass-fibre grade, but BASF Forward AM and Owens Corning both sell one through European retail[9][5][10][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 kg spools[6][2][7][8]1.75 and 2.85 mm at +/- 0.05 mm; 500 g and 1 kg net spools[5]
Typical applicationsCapacitive touch surfaces, low-current traces, EMI shielding and static-safe fixtures[1]Functional prototyping for mechanical engineering, electronics and automotive[5]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented+/- 0.05 (Owens Corning XSTRAND)[5]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented280-330 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC)[5]
Bed temperature°CNot documented80-110 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC)[5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1]Enclosure required (passive) — as for unfilled PC[12][13]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedPerforated plate, DimaFix or Magigoo PC glue (Owens Corning)[5]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[1]Not documented
Extruder requirementNot documentedOwens Corning specifies a nozzle above 0.4 mm and hardened steel nozzles and drive wheels[5]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[1]Hardened steel required — Owens Corning states glass reinforcement shortens brass nozzle and drive-wheel life[5]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[1]Highly abrasive — 30 wt% glass fibre[5]
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; PC already absorbs water from the air and Prusa lists glass-filled composites as a higher clogging risk[14][15]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedNegligible (<0.1 % EMC) — Owens Corning measures below 0.1 % at 23 °C and 50 % RH (ISO 62)[5]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documentedBelow 0.1 at 23 °C and 50 % RH, and below 0.1 at saturation (ISO 62)[5]
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]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published. Polymaker calls PC highly hygroscopic; absorbed water flashes to steam and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[17][16]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented65 at break (printed, ISO 527 at 1 mm/min)[5]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented5400 (printed, ISO 527 at 1 mm/min)[5]
Elongation at break%Not documented2.5 at break (printed, ISO 527 at 1 mm/min)[5]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented113 at yield (printed, ISO 178 at 2 mm/min)[5]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented5500 (printed, ISO 178 at 2 mm/min)[5]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; carbon-black loading at conductive levels embrittles PLA[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning; 2.5 % elongation at break[5]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedRockwell 70 (118) — the source does not name the scales and Shore D 79 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D785, D2240); no figure is published for a glass-fibre grade[18]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedExcellent — holds load for years. Room-temperature tensile creep of moulded unfilled PC ran unbroken at 41 MPa until the test was stopped, and 30 wt% glass raises the tensile modulus from about 2.3 to 5.4 GPa[19][5]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented137 (printed, ISO 75 Method A at 1.8 MPa)[5]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented145 (DSC, ISO 11357)[5]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented270 stated as melting point (ISO 11357) — unusual for an amorphous polymer, but this is the published figure[5]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented26.2 in XY and 77.4 in Z (printed, ISO 11359-2) — a threefold anisotropy, and the lowest in-plane expansion of any polycarbonate here[5]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedUL 94 V-0 verified (Owens Corning)[5]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedGood — years with some colour shift. Owens Corning lists UV resistance as a product benefit but publishes no exposure data[5]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedExcellent — essentially unaffected; below 0.1 % water at saturation (ISO 62)[5]
Electrical & ESD propertiesConductive rather than dissipative — Proto-pasta sells the grade as electrically conductive composite PLA[1]Electrically insulating (Owens Corning)[5]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[20]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[20]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/minNot documented≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[20]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[20]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[20][13]
Dust & fibre handling hazardConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Owens Corning warns that the glass reinforcement is abrasive when melted and advises sufficient ventilation and avoiding extrusion fumes[5]
Post-Processing
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedHigh dimensional stability is the headline benefit; the 26.2 um/m*K in-plane CTE is a third of unfilled PC's[5]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inChloroform dissolves PLA-based grades, leaving the carbon black; TPU-based grades need DMF, NMP or THF. Laboratory reagents.[21][22]Dichloromethane and chloroform dissolve the matrix and leave the fibre; DMF and dioxane do the same (Covestro).[23]
Softened or crazed byAcetone and ethyl acetate plasticise a PLA-based grade; a TPU-based grade swells in toluene, esters and alcohols.[21][22]Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[23]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — neither PLA nor TPU has a workshop-safe welding or smoothing solvent.[21][22]Dichloromethane cement welds the resin, but the fibre keeps the joint from flowing closed. Controlled carcinogen.[24]

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. XSTRAND GF30-PC Data Sheet Owens Corning · 2019-04 · tds
  6. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Eel product page — durometer, print guidelines and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. add:north Koltron G1 product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. BASF Ultrafuse PC GF30 Black 2.85 mm 1.000 g igo3d · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  13. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  19. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  20. 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
  21. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  22. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  23. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  24. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds