3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

HIPS vs rPETG

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

HIPS guideRecycled PETG (rPETG) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore HIPS comparisonsMore rPETG comparisons
HIPS vs rPETG — documented properties and sources
PropertyHIPSABSRecycled PETG (rPETG)PETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$29.99/kg median; $27.99–$32.00/kg across 3 dated product listings$28.99/kg median; $17.24–$39.98/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryHigh-impact polystyrene — polystyrene toughened with a butadiene rubber phase[1][2]PETG regranulated from recycled polyester waste; Polymaker's Fiberon PETG-rCF08 adds 8 wt% recycled carbon fibre[3][4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.04 (ISO 1183)[1]1.27 (Prusament) and 1.30 (Fiberon PETG-rCF08), ISO 1183[3][5]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 31[6][7]1 kg spools cluster near 29[6][8][9][10]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg28–32 across brands; YXPOLYER 28, Push Plastic 30, 3DXTech 32[7][6][11]17–40 across brands; Filament PM RePETG 17, 3DXTech ECOMAX 26, GreenGate3D 32, Fiberon rCF08 40[6][8][9][10]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[6][7]Available from several mainstream brands[6][8][9]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 1 and 3 kg spools[7][6]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 1 and 3 kg spools[9][8]
Typical applicationsBreak-away and d-limonene-soluble support for ABS and ASA, and a light model material in its own right[2]Not documented
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.05 (Prusament PETG Recycled), against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PETG[3][12]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C230–245 (Simplify3D)[13]250 ± 10 (Prusament); 230–255 (Spectrum)[3][4]
Bed temperature°C100–115 (Simplify3D)[13]80 ± 10 (Prusament); 60–80 (Spectrum)[3][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended[14]Open frame is fine — Spectrum states a closed chamber is not necessary[4]
Part cooling fanPart cooling fan not required[13]50 % (Prusament); up to 100 % (Spectrum)[3][4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidGlue stick, glass plate, Kapton tape or PET sheets[13]Textured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[12][15]
Warping tendency1–5Moderate — needs adhesion aid or draught shield[14]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[13]Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[12][15]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — HIPS oozes less than ABS[13][16]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[15]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile[14]Easy — minor profile tuning; Spectrum describes printing as similar to standard PETG[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[14]Brass fine indefinitely[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[14]Not documented
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — no special hot-end required, no drybox and no hardened nozzle, and 3DXTech states drying is not needed[13][17][2]Low — recycled PETG prints on the same hardware as virgin PETG: no special hot-end, no drybox and no hardened nozzle[18][17]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[13]Slightly sensitive[18]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[13]No special hot-end required[18]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Low (0.1–0.3 %) — Simplify3D lists water resistance as a headline property[13]Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — recycled PETG shares the virgin matrix, which reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[12]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.07 after 24 h and 0.10 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers)[3]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[19]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[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[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 requirementSealed with desiccant; less critical than for the polyamides[19]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[19][15]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa40 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]43 ± 1.8 printed horizontal at yield, ISO 527-1 (Prusament), against 47 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 52 at yield on moulded specimens[3][12][4]
Young's modulusMPa1350 (printed XY, ISO 527) — the lowest modulus of the styrenics here[1]1500 printed horizontal, 1600 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 527-1) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[3][12]
Elongation at break%18 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]4.5 at yield printed (Prusament); Spectrum quotes 400 at break on moulded specimens[3][4]
Flexural strengthMPa70 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]63 ± 1 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament), against 66 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG[3][12]
Flexural modulusMPa1600 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]1800 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 15 ± 3 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[3]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 25 ± 3 printed horizontal and 38 ± 11 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented15 ± 5 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test), against 18 ± 4 for virgin Prusament PETG[3][12]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1]Moderate[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[3][12]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate — no printed-HIPS creep test found; Tg of 100 °C keeps room-temperature service far below softening[1][13]Below average — no recycled-grade creep test; virgin PETG sagged from 12 to 17.1–20.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[20][21][22][23]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate[1]Moderate — no recycled-grade S-N curve; virgin printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[24]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Slightly flexible in thin sections[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented68 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 70[3][12][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented68 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°C100 (DSC)[1]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point[1]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°CBounded by a glass transition of 100 °C; no loaded-bar service figure is published for HIPS[1]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[1]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[25]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — polystyrene yellows and chalks under UV[26]Not documented
Chemical resistanceDissolves completely in d-limonene — the basis of its use as a soluble support[2]Withstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[15]
Food contactNot food safe[26]Not certified for food contact as filament[15]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[26]Not biodegradable[15]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[26]The feedstock itself — Spectrum describes collecting, shredding and re-homogenising PETG waste[4]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5High — hazardous VOC such as styrene; enclosure and filtration needed[27]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[27]
VOC emission rateµg/min12–113 styrene, the range measured across ABS and the one HIPS filament tested[27]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈4 × 10⁹ median for the HIPS filament tested, an order of magnitude below ABS but forty times PLA[27]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedStyrene was the only dominant VOC identified for the HIPS filament tested[27]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Enclosure with carbon and HEPA filtration[27]Open a window / occasional ventilation[27]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands and paints readily, like ABS[26]Sands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[18]
Gluing & solvent weldingSolvent-welds with d-limonene, and with acetone via its polystyrene backbone[13][2]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[18]
Vapour / chemical smoothingd-limonene attacks the surface; acetone smoothing is far less effective than on ABS[2][13]No practical vapour smoothing[18]
Support material pairingUsed as the support material itself — dissolves in d-limonene, or breaks away from ABS and ASA[2]Prints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[18]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble ind-limonene, 12–24 h submerged with occasional agitation; acetone also dissolves it, and xylene does so at 23 °C.[28][29][30]No common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[31][32]
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.[33]Acetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[31]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentLimonene welds and lightly etches it; acetone welds through the polystyrene backbone but smooths less well than ABS.[28][33]Dichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[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. 3DXMAX HIPS Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. 3DXMAX HIPS — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  3. Prusament PETG Recycled Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Spectrum r-PETG Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Fiberon PETG-rCF08 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  6. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. GreenGate3D Recycled PET-G — product data GreenGate3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Filament PM RePETG technical data sheet Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  11. YXPOLYER HIPS product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  13. HIPS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  14. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. ABS — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 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. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  22. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  23. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  24. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  25. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  26. ABS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  27. 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
  28. D-Limonene — FDM post-processing guide Filament2Print · 2026-08 · review
  29. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  30. US 5,278,282 Polymer recycling by selective dissolution — xylene dissolution temperatures Nauman & Lynch, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute · 1994-01 · paper
  31. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  32. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  33. HIPS — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc