3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

e-TPU vs PA12-GF

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

Foaming / expanded TPU (TPU Aero / TPU Air) guideGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore e-TPU comparisonsMore PA12-GF comparisons
e-TPU vs PA12-GF — documented properties and sources
PropertyFoaming / expanded TPU (TPU Aero / TPU Air)FLEXGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$52.05/kg median; $41.99–$85.29/kg across 6 dated product listings$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryFoaming thermoplastic polyurethane — a blowing agent expands the extrudate so the printed Shore hardness can be tuned by flow rate[1]PA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[2]
Densityg/cm³1.15 filament (Siraya Tech Flex TPU Air) and 1.05 (Roamr TPU Air HR), ISO 1183; the printed part falls to 0.51–0.93 depending on nozzle temperature (ISO 845)[3][4]1.23 (ISO 1183)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–85; the middle of the market is about 52[5][6][7][8][9][10]1 kg-equivalent spools span 46–140; the middle of the market is about 88[11][12][13]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg42–85 across brands; QIDI TPU-Aero 42, Siraya Tech Flex TPU Air 45, Phaetus aeFlex TPU-Aero 49 direct and 40 at West3D, Roamr TPU Air HR 80A 55 at 800 g, Recreus Filaflex Foamy 73 at 750 g, colorFabb varioShore 85 at 700 g[5][6][7][8][9][10][14]46–140 across brands; IEMAI 3D 46, 3DXTech 131 at 750 g and 130 at 2 kg, PrimaCreator NylonPower Glass Fiber 140 at 500 g[11][12][13]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands — colorFabb, Recreus, QIDI, Phaetus, Siraya Tech and FusRock all sell an active-foaming TPU[1][5][6][7][9][10]Available from several mainstream brands[11][12]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 1 and 3 kg spools[1][5][7][8][10]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[11][13]
Typical applicationsCushioning, midsoles, insoles and soft-touch parts where the softness needs to vary within one print; Siraya Tech's Roamr line is aimed specifically at printed footwear[1][8]Stiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[2][15]
Diameter tolerance± mm0.03 (Siraya Tech and Roamr, 1.75 mm)[3][4]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C230–270 (QIDI and Siraya Tech), 220–260 (Roamr); foaming activates near 230 °C and is strongest at the top of the range[1][3][4][9]Not documented
Bed temperature°C30–45 (QIDI and Siraya Tech), 35–50 (Roamr) — a hot bed makes the foamed part over-stick[3][4][9]Not documented
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Roamr states no enclosure is required[1][4]Enclosure required (passive)[16]
Part cooling fan100 % — cooling sets the foamed structure quickly (Siraya Tech and Roamr)[3][4]Not documented
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent, and Siraya Tech recommends PVP glue or Magigoo as a release agent on PEI[17][18][3]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[19][16]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sUp to 12 (Siraya Tech, Flex TPU Air)[7]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds a specific surface plus adhesive[19]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Severe — the material expands inside the hot end, so it oozes on travel moves; QIDI states retraction tuning cannot fix it and Siraya Tech advises setting retraction distance and speed to zero[3][9]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[16]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; both density and hardness follow nozzle temperature and flow[1]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[16]
Extruder requirementDirect drive; the base material is a 92A TPU[1][20]Not documented
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely — Roamr states plainly that no hardened nozzle is needed[21][4]Hardened steel required — no nozzle-life figure is published for a PA12-GF30 grade; Polymaker measures about 9 h of brass nozzle life on its comparable fibre-filled nylons[22]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[21]Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[22]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Not documentedHigh — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[23]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedModerate — good heatbreak cooling needed[19]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[17]May require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[19]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate[23]High (0.8–2 %) — the PA12 matrix takes up far less than PA6, on the evidence of Polymaker's 1.5 % for PA12-CF10 against 3.33 % for PA6-GF25[24][25]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%1.09 water absorption (QIDI TPU-Aero; the standard is not stated)[9]Not documented
Drying temperature & time70–80 °C for 4–6 h; keep below 15 % RH while printing (Siraya Tech, Roamr and QIDI)[3][4][9]Not documented
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface; Siraya Tech adds that moisture wrecks the foaming itself, not only the surface[23][3]Not documented
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials; no dry-versus-conditioned figures are published[23]Polymaker's PA12 grades change little between wet and dry, unlike PA6; the CoPA dry-to-wet blocks show the PA6-type response[15][26]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[23]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[23]
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[22][26]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaFalls with foaming: colorFabb 24 unfoamed and 12 foamed (ISO 527-1A); Siraya Tech 10.3 at break printed at 240 °C down to 3.8 at 270 °C; QIDI 6.81 at break (ISO 527, XY)[1][3][9]82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Young's modulusMPa50 unfoamed and 40 foamed (colorFabb, ISO 527-1A)[1]7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Elongation at break%465 unfoamed and 450 foamed (colorFabb, ISO 527-1A); Siraya Tech 629 at 240 °C down to 475 at 270 °C; Roamr 760 down to 540; QIDI 576 (ISO 527, XY)[1][3][4][9]4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[2][25]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa50 unfoamed and 40 foamed flexural modulus (colorFabb, ISO 178)[1]7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Brittleness1–5Very ductile — bends far before failing[1]Moderate[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellTunable by nozzle temperature: colorFabb 92 Shore A unfoamed; Siraya Tech 78 A printed at 240 °C falling to 63 A at 270 °C, Roamr TPU Air HR 80A 80 A down to 66 A and HR 85A 83 A down to 70 A (ISO 7619)[1][3][4][27]Rockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a glass-fibre PA12 filament[28]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Poor — no foamed-grade creep test; a printed 95A TPU bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[29]Good. Ensinger lists high creep resistance for extruded PA66-GF30 stock, and the PA12 matrix absorbs far less water than PA6, so a PA12-GF part holds load better in a humid environment[28][16]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[18]Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[28]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rubbery / highly elastic[1]Rigid[2]
Thermal Properties
Melting point / Vicat°CVicat softening drops as the foam expands: 83 printed at 240 °C to 53 at 270 °C (Siraya Tech, ISO 306); QIDI 70.4[3][9]Not documented
Annealing responseFoaming activates near 230 °C and expands the extrudate about 1.6×; colorFabb advises dropping flow to 60–70 % to realise the weight saving, and Siraya Tech publishes a flow schedule from 85–90 % at 230 °C down to 50–55 % at 270 °C[1][3]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented48.6 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D696; source states 2.7e-5 in/in/°F) — no figure is published for a glass-fibre PA12 filament[28]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[22]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[18]Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[16]
Chemical resistanceWithstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[18]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis[16]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[15]
Food contactNot food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[18]Not food-contact certified as filament[16]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Not biodegradable[16]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[18]Not accepted in household plastic collection[16]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[30]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[30]
VOC emission rateµg/minNot documentedUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[30]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/minNot documented≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[30]
Hazardous species emittedNot documentedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[30]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[30]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[30]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningDifficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[18]Sands poorly — gums rather than powders[19]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[18]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[19]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[18]No practical vapour smoothing[19]
Support material pairingPolymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[18]Not documented
Dimensional accuracy & detailFoamed surfaces are matte and textured; holding a consistent hardness means holding the nozzle temperature steady, and the printed density moves by nearly a factor of two across the 230–270 °C window[1][3]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[31]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[32]
Softened or crazed byToluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; the foamed wall soaks up esters and alcohols faster still.[31]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[32]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[31]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[32]

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. varioShore TPU Technical Data Sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  2. FibreX PA12-GF30 Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Siraya Tech Flex TPU Air Technical Data Sheet Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Roamr TPU Air HR 80A Technical Data Sheet Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Recreus product catalogue Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. varioShore TPU Natural — product page colorFabb US · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Siraya Tech Flex TPU Air Black Filament — lightweight foaming flexible, product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Roamr TPU Air HR 80A Filament — product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. TPU-Aero Lightweight TPU Filament — product page with specification tables QIDI Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. aeFlex TPU-Aero — active foaming low weight TPU, product page Phaetus · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. IEMAI 3D GF-PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower Glass Fiber product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Phaetus aeWorthy TPU-Aero — reseller listing West3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  18. TPU — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  20. NinjaFlex 85A Technical Specifications NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  21. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  22. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  23. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Fiberon PA12-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-02 · tds
  25. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  26. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  27. Roamr TPU Air HR 85A Technical Data Sheet Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · tds
  28. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  29. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  30. 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
  31. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  32. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds