3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

e-TPU vs PLA HS

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

Foaming / expanded TPU (TPU Aero / TPU Air) guideHigh-Speed PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore e-TPU comparisonsMore PLA HS comparisons
e-TPU vs PLA HS — documented properties and sources
PropertyFoaming / expanded TPU (TPU Aero / TPU Air)FLEXHigh-Speed PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$52.05/kg median; $41.99–$85.29/kg across 6 dated product listings$19.99/kg median; $11.49–$32.99/kg across 10 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]PLA with rheology and crystallisation tuned for high volumetric flow; melt index 15.4 g/10 min vs 7–11 for standard PLA[2][3]
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)[4][5]1.23 (ISO 1183, at 21.5 °C)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–85; the middle of the market is about 52[6][7][8][9][10][11]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[12][13][14]
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[6][7][8][9][10][11][15]11–33 across brands; budget house brands 11–18, Prusament 33[16][17][18]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands — colorFabb, Recreus, QIDI, Phaetus, Siraya Tech and FusRock all sell an active-foaming TPU[1][6][7][8][10][11]Stocked by most mainstream brands[19][14][20]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.7, 0.75, 0.8, 1 and 3 kg spools[1][6][8][9][11]1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[12][14]
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][9]Large or repetitive prints on printers that can sustain high flow[21][19]
Diameter tolerance± mm0.03 (Siraya Tech and Roamr, 1.75 mm)[4][5]±0.03 (Bambu Lab PLA Basic, rated to 258 mm/s)[22]
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][4][5][10]210–230 for high-speed work; 190–210 at classic speeds[2][19]
Bed temperature°C30–45 (QIDI and Siraya Tech), 35–50 (Roamr) — a hot bed makes the foamed part over-stick[4][5][10]30–60 (Polymaker); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)[2][23]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Roamr states no enclosure is required[1][5]Open frame is fine[2]
Part cooling fan100 % — cooling sets the foamed structure quickly (Siraya Tech and Roamr)[4][5]Fan on[2]
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[24][25][4]Not documented
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sUp to 12 (Siraya Tech, Flex TPU Air)[8]≈24 at 300 mm/s with a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2 mm layer; 30 % more flow than regular PLA at the same temperature[2][19][21][26]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedNone[2]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedSticks to anything[27]
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[4][10]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; both density and hardness follow nozzle temperature and flow[1]Easy — minor profile tuning; needs a printer that can actually reach the flow rate[19][2]
Extruder requirementDirect drive; the base material is a 92A TPU[1][28]Not documented
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely — Roamr states plainly that no hardened nozzle is needed[29][5]Brass fine indefinitely[30]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[29]Non-abrasive[31][30]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Not documentedVery low[30]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedModerate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[32]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[24]No special hot-end required[27]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate[33]Moderate — 0.40 % equilibrium at 23 °C / 70 % RH[2]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%1.09 water absorption (QIDI TPU-Aero; the standard is not stated)[10]0.40 equilibrium at 23 °C / 70 % RH (Polymaker PolySonic)[2]
Drying temperature & time70–80 °C for 4–6 h; keep below 15 % RH while printing (Siraya Tech, Roamr and QIDI)[4][5][10]55 °C for 6 h; 50 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[2][23]
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[33][4]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[33]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials; no dry-versus-conditioned figures are published[33]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[33]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[33]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[23][27]
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][4][10]43.9 at 300 mm/s and 46.0 at 46.7 mm/s (printed XY, ISO 527); 58.6 on My Tech Fun bars for Creality Hyper PLA[2][34]
Young's modulusMPa50 unfoamed and 40 foamed (colorFabb, ISO 527-1A)[1]2650 at 300 mm/s, 2878 at classic speed (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][4][5][10]15.1 at 300 mm/s, 21.5 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented71.4 at 300 mm/s, 76.5 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa50 unfoamed and 40 foamed flexural modulus (colorFabb, ISO 178)[1]2798 at 300 mm/s, 2868 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented5.0 at 300 mm/s, 6.1 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 179, notched)[2]
Other impact dataNot documentedPrinting at 300 mm/s instead of 46.7 mm/s costs 4.6 % tensile strength and 18 % notched Charpy[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented32.4 at 300 mm/s, 37.3 at classic speed (printed Z, ISO 527); 35.3 for Creality Hyper PLA vs 23.0 for average PLA on identical bars[2][34]
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][4][5][35]78.7 Shore D measured on printed bars for Sunlu PLA Meta (My Tech Fun), against 75.3 for the same maker's plain PLA[36]
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[37]Poor — 12 mm bar sagged to 17.7 mm over 6 days at 1.25 kg[34]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[25]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[38][32]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rubbery / highly elastic[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented74 at 300 mm/s, 81 at classic speed (printed)[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented53 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[2]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented52 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[2]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented59 (DSC)[2]
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[4][10]164 peak melt (DSC); crystallisation 96 °C, Vicat 61 °C[2]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented53 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[34]
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][4]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented96–99 for plain printed PLA (fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C); no grade-specific measurement published[39]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[23][3]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[25]Degrades within weeks outdoors[32][40]
Chemical resistanceWithstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[25]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis[2]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — insoluble in water[23]
Food contactNot food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[25]Base resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[32]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[25]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[41][32]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[25]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[41]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[42]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[42]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[42]None needed in a normal room[42]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningDifficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[25]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[40][32]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[25]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[32][43]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[25]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[32]
Support material pairingPolymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[25]PolySupport and PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker)[2]
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][4]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[44]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[45]
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.[44]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[45][46]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[44]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[47][46]

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. PolySonic PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  3. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  4. Siraya Tech Flex TPU Air Technical Data Sheet Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Roamr TPU Air HR 80A Technical Data Sheet Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Recreus product catalogue Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. varioShore TPU Natural — product page colorFabb US · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Siraya Tech Flex TPU Air Black Filament — lightweight foaming flexible, product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Roamr TPU Air HR 80A Filament — product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. TPU-Aero Lightweight TPU Filament — product page with specification tables QIDI Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. aeFlex TPU-Aero — active foaming low weight TPU, product page Phaetus · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. PolySonic PLA 1.75mm/1kg — product page Polymaker Shop · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Overture High Speed PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. High Speed PLA filament collection Anycubic Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Phaetus aeWorthy TPU-Aero — reseller listing West3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. PLA Meta filament collection Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. QIDI PLA Rapido 1.75mm 1kg 3D Printers Depot · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. Prusament PLA Prusa Pro Green 1kg (NFC) Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. PolySonic PLA — product page Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  20. Creality PLA filament collection Creality Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. Polymaker Launches New High-Speed 3D Printing Filament — PolySonic PLA & PLA Pro Polymaker · 2023-11 · doc
  22. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  23. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  24. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  25. TPU — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  27. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  28. NinjaFlex 85A Technical Specifications NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  29. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  30. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  31. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  32. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  33. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  34. Creality Hyper PLA filament review — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  35. Roamr TPU Air HR 85A Technical Data Sheet Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · tds
  36. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  37. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  38. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  39. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  40. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  41. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  42. 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
  43. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  44. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  45. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  46. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  47. 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