3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

HIPS vs PA6-GF

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

HIPS guideGlass-fibre PA6 (PA6-GF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore HIPS comparisonsMore PA6-GF comparisons
HIPS vs PA6-GF — documented properties and sources
PropertyHIPSABSGlass-fibre PA6 (PA6-GF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$29.99/kg median; $27.99–$32.00/kg across 3 dated product listings$59.98/kg median; $39.99–$130.00/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryHigh-impact polystyrene — polystyrene toughened with a butadiene rubber phase[1][2]PA6 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — Polymaker's grade is 25 wt%[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.04 (ISO 1183)[1]1.14 (Bambu Lab) and 1.20 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 1183[4][3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 31[5][6]1 kg-equivalent spools span 40–130; the middle of the market is about 60[4][7][8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg28–32 across brands; YXPOLYER 28, Push Plastic 30, 3DXTech 32[6][5][9]40–130 across brands; SUNLU 40, YXPOLYER 45, Polymaker Fiberon and Bambu Lab 60, 3DXTech FibreX 87, Obsidian Nylon 6+GF 130[7][4][5][8][10]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[5][6]Stocked by most mainstream brands[4][7][5][8][10]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1 and 3 kg spools[6][5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[7][5][4]
Typical applicationsBreak-away and d-limonene-soluble support for ABS and ASA, and a light model material in its own right[2]Stiff, heat-resistant structural parts where a matte finish and lower cost beat carbon fibre[4][3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C230–245 (Simplify3D)[11]260–290 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Bed temperature°C100–115 (Simplify3D)[11]Not documented
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[12]Enclosure required (passive) — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[4]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented45–60 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Part cooling fanPart cooling fan not required[11]Not documented
Bed surface & adhesion aidGlue stick, glass plate, Kapton tape or PET sheets[11]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[13][14]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented10 at Bambu Lab's 130 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[4][15]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield[12]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[11]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[13]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — HIPS oozes less than ABS[11][16]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[14]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[12]Expert / industrial hardware only[4][17]
Extruder requirementNot documented0.6 mm nozzle recommended by Bambu Lab; 0.4 and 0.8 also supported[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[12]Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA6-GF25 and recommends hardened steel or ruby[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[12]Highly abrasive — standard GF composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA6-GF25[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — no special hot-end required, no drybox and no hardened nozzle, and 3DXTech states drying is not needed[11][18][2]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup[17]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[11]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[13]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[11]May require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[13]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Low (0.1–0.3 %) — Simplify3D lists water resistance as a headline property[11]Very high (>2 %) — 2.56 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab) and 3.33 % equilibrium (Polymaker Fiberon), the highest in the dataset[4][3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented2.56 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 3.33 equilibrium (Polymaker Fiberon PA6-GF25)[4][3]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8–12 h (Bambu Lab)[4]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[17]Popping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[19]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker rates ABS moderate-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures; absorbed water flashes to steam in the hotend and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[17]Polymaker publishes dry and wet printed blocks for PA6-GF25 itself: at 4.57 % moisture tensile falls 80.1 → 40.2 MPa and modulus 5357 → 1794 MPa, while notched Charpy rises 10.0 → 28.0 kJ/m²[3][19]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; less critical than for the polyamides[17]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[17]
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[20][21]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa40 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]75 ± 6 (Bambu Lab) and 80.1 ± 1.8 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry/annealed) printed XY, ISO 527; Fiberon falls to 40.2 ± 2.1 conditioned to 4.57 % moisture. Stratasys FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR gives 60.2-61.1 at break and 61.7-62.3 at yield printed XZ (ASTM D638)[4][3][22]
Young's modulusMPa1350 (printed XY, ISO 527) — the lowest modulus of the styrenics here[1]2850 ± 260 (Bambu Lab) and 5357 ± 211 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry) printed XY, ISO 527; Fiberon falls to 1794 ± 84 conditioned. Stratasys FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR gives 5600-5830 printed XZ against 3050-3140 in ZX (ASTM D638)[4][3][22]
Elongation at break%18 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2.4 ± 0.2 dry (Polymaker Fiberon) to 3.9 ± 0.8 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 527; the Fiberon grade rises to 4.2 ± 0.7 conditioned[4][3]
Flexural strengthMPa70 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa1600 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]3670 ± 140 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented10.0 ± 0.7 printed XY dry and 28.0 ± 1.0 conditioned, ISO 179 notched (Polymaker Fiberon); Bambu Lab 7.2 ± 2.3[3][4]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 27.2 ± 2.2 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179). Stratasys FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR gives Izod notched 74.6-77.1 J/m printed XZ against 17.2-22.1 in ZX (ASTM D256)[4][22]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented27 ± 5 (Bambu Lab) and 60.7 ± 1.1 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry) printed Z, ISO 527 — the two makers differ by more than a factor of two; Fiberon falls to 26.3 ± 1.5 conditioned. Stratasys FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR gives 23.7-24.4 at break printed ZX (ASTM D638)[4][3][22]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2.4 % in XY[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedRockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785)[23]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no printed-HIPS creep test found; Tg of 100 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[1][11]Good. Ensinger lists high creep resistance as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock; the rating is held below Excellent because equilibrium moisture uptake of 3.33 % softens the matrix in service[23][3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate[1]Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[23]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented36 (Bambu Lab) to 76 (Polymaker Fiberon), printed; Stratasys FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR gives 39-41 (ZX against XZ tensile at break, ASTM D638)[4][3][22]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented182 (Bambu Lab) and 191 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa. Stratasys FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR gives 161 printed XY and 185 XZ (ASTM D648 at 66 psi)[4][3][22]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented157 (Polymaker Fiberon) and 158 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[4][3]
Glass transition (Tg)°C100 (DSC)[1]67 (Bambu Lab) and 70.4 (Polymaker Fiberon), DSC; Stratasys measures 51.5 on FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR (ASTM D7426)[4][3][22]
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point[1]214.5 (Polymaker Fiberon) and 219 (Bambu Lab) melting, DSC; Vicat 210–212 (ISO 306)[4][3]
Continuous service temperature°CBounded by a glass transition of 100 °C; no loaded-bar service figure is published for HIPS[1]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). Stratasys measures much higher on printed FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR — 95.4 over -20 to 5 °C and 214 over 25 to 80 °C in XY (ASTM E831)[23][22]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[1]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[20]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — polystyrene yellows and chalks under UV[24]Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[14]
Chemical resistanceDissolves completely in d-limonene — the basis of its use as a soluble support[2]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis[14]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedAbsorbs water, properties shift[19]
Food contactNot food safe[24]Not food-contact certified as filament[14]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[24]Not biodegradable[14]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[24]Not accepted in household plastic collection[14]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Surface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (Polymaker Fiberon, ANSI/ESD S11.11)[3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[25]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[25]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the range measured across ABS and the one HIPS filament tested[25]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[25]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈4 × 10⁹ median for the HIPS filament tested, an order of magnitude below ABS but forty times PLA[25]≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[25]
Hazardous species emittedStyrene was the only dominant VOC identified for the HIPS filament tested[25]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[25]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[25]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[25]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[3]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands and paints readily, like ABS[24]Sands poorly — gums rather than powders[13]
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with d-limonene, and with acetone via its polystyrene backbone[11][2]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[13]
Vapour / chemical smoothingd-limonene attacks the surface; acetone smoothing is far less effective than on ABS[2][11]No practical vapour smoothing[13]
Support material pairingUsed as the support material itself — dissolves in d-limonene, or breaks away from ABS and ASA[2]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble ind-limonene, 12–24 h submerged with occasional agitation; acetone also dissolves it, and xylene does so at 23 °C.[26][27][28]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[29]
Softened or crazed byLimonene also disrupts layer adhesion in some ABS and ASA grades, so an ABS model can flake apart in the same bath.[30]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[29]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentLimonene welds and lightly etches it; acetone welds through the polystyrene backbone but smooths less well than ABS.[26][30]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[29]

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. 3DXMAX HIPS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. 3DXMAX HIPS — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  3. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PA6-GF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. SUNLU Nylon-6 Glass Fiber (PA6-GF) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg — product page SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. YXPOLYER HIPS product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. YXPOLYER PA6-GF Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  12. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  14. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  16. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  21. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  22. FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR — Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2026-07 · tds
  23. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  24. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. 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
  26. D-Limonene — FDM post-processing guide Filament2Print · 2026-08 · review
  27. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  28. US 5,278,282 Polymer recycling by selective dissolution — xylene dissolution temperatures Nauman & Lynch, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 1994-01 · paper
  29. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  30. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc