3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

Conductive vs PETG-ESD

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

Conductive filament guideESD-safe PETG guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore Conductive comparisonsMore PETG-ESD comparisons
Conductive vs PETG-ESD — documented properties and sources
PropertyConductive filamentSPECIALTYESD-safe PETGPETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$170.36/kg median; $89.99–$796.00/kg across 4 dated product listings$102.99/kg median; $65.98–$140.00/kg across 2 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]PETG compounded with a conductive filler to bring surface resistivity into the static-dissipative range[5][6]
Densityg/cm³Not documented1.24 (Fiberon) and 1.28 (3DXTech), ISO 1183[5][6]
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[7][8][9]1 kg-equivalent spools span 66–140; the middle of the market is about 103[10][11]
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[7][2][8][9]66–140 across brands; Fiberon PETG-ESD 66, 3DXSTAT ESD-PETG 140[10][11]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[7][2]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[10][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.05, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1 and 2 kg spools[7][2][8][9]1.75 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 3 kg spools[10][11]
Typical applicationsCapacitive touch surfaces, low-current traces, EMI shielding and static-safe fixtures[1]Electronics fixtures, trays and jigs handled around static-sensitive components[5][6]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented250–290 (Fiberon)[5]
Bed temperature°CNot documented70–80 (Fiberon); 70 (3DXTech)[5][6]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1]Open frame is fine — Fiberon specifies room-temperature chamber[5]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[12][13]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documentedFiberon rates the material to 500 mm/s, equivalent to 40 on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer — a machine-limited headline rather than a measured melt rate[5][14]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[12][13]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[1]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; resistivity depends on getting the nozzle temperature right[5]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[1]Hardened steel required[5]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[1]Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[5]
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 its ESD-PETG, only a 65 °C pre-dry[15]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedSlightly sensitive[16]
Hotend requirementNot documentedNo special hot-end required[16]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedModerate (0.3–0.8 %) — the PETG matrix reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 65 °C, 4 h pre-dry[12][15]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.41 equilibrium water absorption (Fiberon PETG-ESD)[5]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented65 °C for 3 h (Fiberon)[5]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[17]
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[17]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[17]
Storage requirementNot documentedSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[17][13]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented36.1 ± 0.9 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 50 at break[5][6]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented1983 ± 75 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon)[5]
Elongation at break%Not documented7.3 ± 0.7 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 13 at break[5][6]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented54.0 ± 2.5 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon)[5]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented1651 ± 141 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon)[5]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented5.7 ± 0.5 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Fiberon)[5]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 29.3 ± 2.2 printed XY (Fiberon, ISO 179)[5]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented20.7 ± 0.6 printed Z, ISO 527 (Fiberon)[5]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; carbon-black loading at conductive levels embrittles PLA[1]Moderate[5]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedBelow average — no ESD-grade creep test; unfilled PETG sagged from 12 to 17.1–20.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[18][19][20][21]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedModerate — no ESD-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[22]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Slightly flexible in thin sections[5]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented57 (Fiberon, printed Z against XY tensile)[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented76 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Fiberon)[5]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented72 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Fiberon)[5]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented77 (Fiberon) and 80 (3DXTech), DSC[5][6]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 86 (Fiberon, ISO 306)[5]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[23]
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[13]
Food contactNot documentedNot certified for food contact as filament[13]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot documentedNot biodegradable[13]
RecyclabilityNot documentedNot accepted in household plastic collection[13]
Electrical & ESD propertiesConductive rather than dissipative — Proto-pasta sells the grade as electrically conductive composite PLA[1]Surface resistivity falls with nozzle temperature: 7.0×10⁶–1.6×10⁷ ohm at 250 °C, 3.2×10⁵–4.7×10⁵ at 270 °C and below 1×10⁴ at 290 °C (Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 10⁷–10⁹ ohm/sq[5][6]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[24]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[24]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[24]Open a window / occasional ventilation[24]
Dust & fibre handling hazardConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Conductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[5]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[16]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[16]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[16]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[16]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedNozzle temperature has to be held steady — it moves surface resistivity by three orders of magnitude[5]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inChloroform dissolves PLA-based grades, leaving the carbon black; TPU-based grades need DMF, NMP or THF. Laboratory reagents.[25][26]No common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[27][28]
Softened or crazed byAcetone and ethyl acetate plasticise a PLA-based grade; a TPU-based grade swells in toluene, esters and alcohols.[25][26]Acetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[27]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — neither PLA nor TPU has a workshop-safe welding or smoothing solvent.[25][26]Dichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[28]

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. Fiberon PETG-ESD Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  6. 3DXSTAT ESD-PETG Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  7. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Eel product page — durometer, print guidelines and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. add:north Koltron G1 product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  13. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  15. 3DXSTAT ESD-PETG — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  16. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  19. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  20. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  21. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  22. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  23. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  24. 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
  25. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  26. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  27. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  28. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc