3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

Magnetic vs PA blend

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

Magnetic filament guidePA6/66 copolymer blends guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore Magnetic comparisonsMore PA blend comparisons
Magnetic vs PA blend — documented properties and sources
PropertyMagnetic filamentSPECIALTYPA6/66 copolymer blendsPA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$64.99/kg median; $64.99–$64.99/kg across 1 dated product listings$65.62/kg median; $62.00–$113.33/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPLA loaded with ferromagnetic iron powder, so printed parts respond to magnets[1]PA6/66 copolymer — a nylon alloy that lowers the melting point and improves printability against straight PA6[2][3]
Densityg/cm³About 1.85 (Proto-pasta manufacturer figure) — 1.5× standard PLA[1]1.12 (ISO 1183, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 65[4]1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 65[5][6][7]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg64–70 across formats; 1 kg spool 65, 500 g 70, 2 kg 70[4]62–113 across brands; add:north Adura 62, PrimaCreator NylonPower PA6/66 65 at 500 g, Polymaker CoPA 67, 3DXTech AmideX Nylon 6-66 113[5][8][6][7]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[4]Available from several mainstream brands[5][8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.1, 0.5, 1 and 2 kg spools[4]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[5][8][6][7]
Typical applicationsSensor targets, magnetic fixtures, and props that need to stick to a magnet or rust deliberately[1]General-purpose nylon parts and, unusually, CoPA can support itself if the support is removed before it absorbs moisture[2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C192 (Proto-pasta)[1]250–270 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Bed temperature°C60 (Proto-pasta)[1]25–50 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1]Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker specifies a chamber at ambient temperature[2]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s1.6–2.4 at Proto-pasta's 20–30 mm/s on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[1]16 at Polymaker's 200 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[2][9]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; slow, and brittle in filament form[1]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; must be kept below 20 % RH throughout[2][10]
Extruder requirementProto-pasta advises an extrusion width 0.05 mm larger than the nozzle and warns feeding is inconsistent below 0.4 mm and on Bowden machines[1]Not documented
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[1]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[11]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — metal fill[1]Non-abrasive when unfilled[11]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Prusa lists metal-filled composites as a higher clogging risk and recommends a 0.6 mm nozzle minimum[12]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup[13][10]
Hotend requirementProto-pasta recommends a wear-resistant or larger nozzle for longer service intervals[1]Not documented
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedVery high (>2 %) — Polymaker's own wet-state specimens reached 6.16 % moisture content after 48 h immersion at 60 °C[2][10]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented100 °C for 8 h (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedPopping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[13]
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[10]Measured dry against wet on printed specimens at 6.16 % moisture (Polymaker CoPA): tensile 78.0 → 34.3 MPa, Young's modulus 2703 → 724 MPa, flexural strength 109.8 → 22.6 MPa, while notched Charpy rises 6.9 → 27.7 kJ/m² and elongation 12.7 → 13.2 %[2][13]
Storage requirementNot documentedPolymaker states CoPA must always be stored and used below 20 % relative humidity[2]
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureNot documentedPolymaker requires a 100 °C dry for 8 h and storage below 20 % RH; no molecular-weight loss figure is published, and the published wet data is conditioning rather than melt hydrolysis[2][14]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented78.0 ± 0.7 printed XY dry and 34.3 ± 2.5 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented2703 ± 259 printed XY dry and 724 ± 61 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Elongation at break%Not documented12.7 ± 2.1 printed XY dry and 13.2 ± 2.3 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented109.8 ± 1.3 printed XY dry and 22.6 ± 0.5 wet, ISO 178 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2510 ± 25 printed XY dry and 636 ± 11 wet, ISO 178 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented6.9 ± 1.4 printed XY dry and 27.7 ± 1.2 wet, ISO 179 notched (Polymaker CoPA) — impact quadruples when conditioned[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented45.8 ± 1.5 printed Z dry, falling to 13.7 ± 1.2 wet, ISO 527 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — Proto-pasta describes the filament as more brittle than standard PLA and needing extra care in handling[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedShore D 86 and Rockwell 85 (108) — the source does not name the scales on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D2240, D785)[15]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedExcellent — living hinges viable[11]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Semi-flexible[13]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented59 dry (45.8 Z against 78.0 XY) and 40 wet, printed[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented111 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented70 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented66 (DSC, Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented189 melting (DSC); Vicat 180, crystallisation 148, decomposition 370 (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Annealing responseNot documented80 °C for 6 h (Polymaker CoPA)[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented81.0 on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D696; source states 4.5e-5 in/in/°F) — the same chemistry as a PA6/66 copolymer[15]
Environment & Chemical
Outdoor durabilityDeliberately rustable — Proto-pasta markets the iron content as oxidising when exposed to moisture[1]Not documented
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedAbsorbs water, properties shift — 6.16 % uptake cost 56 % of tensile strength and 73 % of modulus[2]
Electrical & ESD propertiesFerromagnetic: Proto-pasta states it responds to magnets and behaves similarly to pure iron[1]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[16]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[16]
VOC emission rateµg/minNot documentedUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[16]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/minNot documented≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[16]
Hazardous species emittedNot documentedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[16]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[16]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[16]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningPolishing and deliberate rusting are the intended finishes[1]Not documented
Support material pairingNot documentedCoPA can support itself, but Polymaker warns the support bonds permanently if it absorbs moisture before removal[2]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inChloroform dissolves the PLA matrix and leaves the iron powder behind; laboratory reagent, not workshop stock.[17][1]Dissolved at 23 °C by formic acid above ~50 %, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — laboratory reagents.[18]
Softened or crazed byAcetone and ethyl acetate plasticise the matrix rather than dissolving it; water attacks the exposed iron.[17][1]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack it — 10 % marginal, 37 % not resistant; alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it.[18]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — PLA has no workshop-safe solvent, and the iron loading blocks the surface flow smoothing needs.[17]None — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[18]

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. Magnetic Iron PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  2. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  3. AmideX Nylon 6-66 — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. add:north Adura product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower PA6/66 product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Composite materials with metal or wood particles Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. PolyMide CoPA — Technical Data Sheet page Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  15. TECAMID 66 natural (PA66) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  16. 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
  17. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  18. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds