3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

Conductive vs PCTG

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

Conductive filament guidePCTG guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore Conductive comparisonsMore PCTG comparisons
Conductive vs PCTG — documented properties and sources
PropertyConductive filamentSPECIALTYPCTGPETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$170.36/kg median; $89.99–$796.00/kg across 4 dated product listings$34.99/kg median; $14.00–$50.67/kg across 5 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]Poly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol — a copolyester with a higher cyclohexanedimethanol content than PETG[5][6]
Densityg/cm³Not documented1.23 (Extrudr, ASTM D792; 3DXTech, ISO 1183)[6][7]
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[8][9][10]1 kg spools cluster near 34[11][7][8]
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[8][2][9][10]14–51 across brands; CHCKX 14 in a 10-roll bundle, Push Plastic 30, Proto-pasta 35 at 1 kg, 3DXTech 51[11][7][12]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[8][2]Available from several mainstream brands[11][7][8][13]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 kg spools[8][2][9][10]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1, 3 and 5 kg spools[11][8][7]
Typical applicationsCapacitive touch surfaces, low-current traces, EMI shielding and static-safe fixtures[1]Transparent covers, guards and impact-loaded parts where PETG cracks[5][6]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented250–270 (Spectrum, Extrudr)[5][6]
Bed temperature°CNot documented60–100 (Spectrum)[5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1]Open frame is fine — Spectrum and Extrudr both say a closed chamber is not necessary, Extrudr adds it helps on larger parts[5][6]
Part cooling fanNot documentedUp to 100 % (Spectrum); 20–50 % (Extrudr)[5][6]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[14][15]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented1.6–16 at the 20–200 mm/s Extrudr rates the material for, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[6][16]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[14][15]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[15]
Shrinkage%Not documented0.2–0.5 (Extrudr, ASTM D955)[6]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[1]Easy — minor profile tuning[5][6]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[1]Brass fine indefinitely — Extrudr explicitly states no hardened nozzle is needed[6]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[1]Non-abrasive[6]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — Proto-pasta states the carbon-filled grade prints on standard PLA settings with no special nozzle required[1]Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for PCTG, only a 65 °C pre-dry[17]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedSlightly sensitive[18]
Hotend requirementNot documentedNo special hot-end required[18]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedModerate (0.3–0.8 %) — the copolyester matrix reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 65 °C, 4 h pre-dry[14][17]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[19]
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[19]Polymaker groups PETG with nylon, PVA and TPU as highly hygroscopic; no dry-versus-conditioned strength figures are published for this grade and the loss shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[19]
Storage requirementNot documentedSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[19][15]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented43–44 at yield and 45–46 at break (ISO 527, injection-moulded resin data from Spectrum and Extrudr); 48 on My Tech Fun printed bars[5][6][20]
Elongation at break%Not documented215–220 at break on moulded specimens (ISO 527); 4.3–4.4 at yield[5][6]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented93–94 notched Izod at 23 °C on moulded specimens (ISO 180); 3DXTech quotes 8 by ISO 180/A[5][6][7]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod 4.14 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars, against 3.37 for PETG on the same rig[20]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented21.6 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm printed bars, against 32.9 for PETG[20]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; carbon-black loading at conductive levels embrittles PLA[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[5][6]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented69 Shore D measured by My Tech Fun, against 72 for PETG[20]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedBelow average — a 12 mm bar sagged to 19.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, slightly worse than PETG's 18.2[20]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedGood — 215 % elongation at break and 94 kJ/m² notched Izod on moulded specimens (Extrudr, Spectrum)[5][6]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Slightly flexible in thin sections[20]
Thermal Properties
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented78 (3DXTech, DSC)[7]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 88 (Spectrum, Extrudr)[5][6]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented68 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature, against 65 for PETG[20]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[21]
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[15]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — minor absorption; Spectrum describes the polymer as hydrophobic[5]
Food contactNot documentedNot certified for food contact as filament[15]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot documentedNot biodegradable[15]
RecyclabilityNot documentedNot accepted in household plastic collection[15]
Electrical & ESD propertiesConductive rather than dissipative — Proto-pasta sells the grade as electrically conductive composite PLA[1]Surface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[7]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[22]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[22]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[22]Open a window / occasional ventilation[22]
Dust & fibre handling hazardConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[18]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[18]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[18]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[18]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedOptical clarity is the selling point; Extrudr recommends a layer height at most 50 % of nozzle diameter[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]No common workshop solvent; Eastman's CHDM copolyester data shows 1,2-dichloroethane destroying it within a week.[25]
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, toluene and DMF swell and soften the copolyester; methanol crazes it (Eastman, 1 y at 23 °C).[25]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — neither PLA nor TPU has a workshop-safe welding or smoothing solvent.[23][24]Dichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[26]

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. Spectrum Premium PCTG Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Extrudr PCTG technical data Extrudr · 2026-08 · tds
  7. MAX-G PCTG Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  8. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Eel product page — durometer, print guidelines and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. add:north Koltron G1 product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. CHCKX 10KG Multicolor PCTG Filament bundle CHCKX (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Atomic Filament product catalogue Atomic Filament · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  15. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  17. MAX-G PCTG — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  18. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  21. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  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. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  26. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc