3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA aramid vs PA12-CF

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

Aramid-fibre nylon guideCarbon-fibre PA12 (PA12-CF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA aramid comparisonsMore PA12-CF comparisons
PA aramid vs PA12-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyAramid-fibre nylonPACarbon-fibre PA12 (PA12-CF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshotsNot documented$109.98/kg median; $52.00–$180.00/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryAramid-fibre reinforced polyamide[1]PA12 reinforced with chopped carbon fibre — Polymaker's grade is 10 wt%[2][3]
Densityg/cm³Not documented1.06 (Polymaker Fiberon) and 1.16 (3DXTech), ISO 1183[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools span 52–180; the middle of the market is about 110[4][5][6]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented52–180 across brands; IEMAI 3D 52, YXPOLYER 80 at 500 g, Polymaker Fiberon 140, 3DXTech CarbonX 180[4][5][7][6]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide — no aramid-filled nylon filament was found in any catalogue searched; the aramid filaments that do exist in the retail market use an ASA matrix[4][5]Available from several mainstream brands[4][5]
Spool sizes & diametersNot documented1.75 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[4][5]
Typical applicationsNot documentedStiff parts that must stay dimensionally stable in changing humidity — Polymaker sells this grade specifically on low moisture sensitivity[8][2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented260–290 (Extrudr DURAPRO PA12 CF)[9]
Bed temperature°CNot documented110 (Extrudr DURAPRO PA12 CF)[9]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — as for every nylon[1]Enclosure required (passive)[1][2]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[10][1]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented12 at Extrudr's 150 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[9][11]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds a specific surface plus adhesive[10]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed[1]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Not documentedAdvanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[1]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required — no aramid-filled nylon datasheet was obtainable; Polymaker measures about 9 h of brass nozzle life on its fibre-filled nylons[12]Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA12-CF10 and recommends hardened steel or ruby[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — fibre-reinforced nylon composite[12]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA12-CF10[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; nylon already needs a drybox and Prusa names kevlar among the fibres that raise nozzle-clogging risk[13]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[14]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedModerate — good heatbreak cooling needed[10]
Hotend requirementNot documentedMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[10]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Very high (>2 %) — the polyamide matrix governs uptake[14]High (0.8–2 %) — 1.5 % equilibrium, the lowest of Polymaker's nylon composites and less than half its PA6-GF25[2][15]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented1.5 equilibrium water absorption (Polymaker Fiberon PA12-CF10)[2]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80–100 °C; storage below 20 % RH[14][2]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker's printed dry-versus-wet blocks for its CoPA nylon show what conditioning does to the family: tensile 78.0 → 34.3 MPa and modulus 2703 → 724 MPa, with notched Charpy rising 6.9 → 27.7 kJ/m². Fibre reinforcement reduces but does not remove the effect[16][8]Polymaker's own dry/wet blocks for PA12-CF10 change little: at 2.92 % moisture tensile falls 77.4 → 71.7 MPa and modulus 3311 → 3132 MPa, against a halving for its PA6 grades[2][8]
Storage requirementNot documentedSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[14]
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[12][16]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented77.4 ± 1.1 printed XY dry (Polymaker Fiberon), 71.7 ± 0.7 conditioned to 2.92 % moisture, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 72 at break. Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF spans 76.5-124 at break printed XZ across five machine and tip combinations (ASTM D638)[2][3][17]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented3311 ± 135 printed XY dry and 3132 ± 124 conditioned, ISO 527 (Polymaker Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 8000. Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF spans 7910-15400 printed XZ against 2130-3000 in ZX (ASTM D638)[2][3][17]
Elongation at break%Not documented4.2 ± 0.4 printed XY dry and 5.3 ± 0.3 conditioned, ISO 527 (Polymaker Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 2.1 at break[2][3]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented90 (printed XY, 3DXTech, ISO 178). Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF spans 152-200 printed XZ against 61-73 in ZX (ASTM D790)[3][17]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented7900 (printed XY, 3DXTech, ISO 178)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented9.9 ± 0.7 printed XY dry and 10.2 ± 0.8 conditioned, ISO 179 notched (Polymaker Fiberon)[2]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 102-138 J/m printed XZ against 22.4-45.5 J/m in ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF, ASTM D256)[17]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented52.2 ± 0.8 printed Z dry (Polymaker Fiberon) — 67 % of XY, unusually isotropic for a filled nylon; 42.1 ± 1.8 conditioned. Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF gives 32.7-38.4 at break printed ZX (ASTM D638)[2][17]
Brittleness1–5Not documentedModerate[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedRockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a carbon-fibre PA12 filament[18]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedGood. Ensinger rates its PA66-CF30 compound for sustained static and dynamic load at 110 °C continuous service; the PA12 matrix takes up 1.5 % equilibrium moisture against PA6's several per cent, so a PA12-CF part drifts less in service[19][2]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedGood. Stratasys sells unfilled FDM Nylon 12 specifically for repetitive-flex parts on the strength of its fatigue properties, and Ensinger reports improved fatigue strength for carbon-filled nylon compounds[19]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Not documentedRigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented31-50 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF, ZX against XZ tensile at break, ASTM D638, five machine and tip combinations) against 67 (Polymaker Fiberon PA12-CF10, printed Z against XY)[2][17]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented131 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Polymaker Fiberon). Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF gives 160 printed XY and 168 ZX, and 175 with unidirectional toolpaths (ASTM D648 at 66 psi)[2][17]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented105 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Polymaker Fiberon). Stratasys FDM Nylon 12CF gives 130 printed XY and 154 ZX (ASTM D648 at 264 psi)[2][17]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented55 (DSC, Polymaker Fiberon)[2]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented171 melting (DSC); Vicat 170.2 (ISO 306)[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documentedStratasys FDM Nylon 12CF gives 116 on XY-built and 37 on ZX-built specimens over -50 to 20 °C, rising to 181 (XY) and 46 (ZX) above the 37.5 °C glass transition (ASTM E831); Extrudr quotes 100 for DURAPRO PA12 CF (ISO 11359-2)[9][17]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[12]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedMonths outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[1]
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[1]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — minor absorption; the most humidity-stable nylon composite here[8][2]
Food contactNot documentedNot food-contact certified as filament[1]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot documentedNot biodegradable[1]
RecyclabilityNot documentedNot accepted in household plastic collection[1]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (Polymaker Fiberon, ANSI/ESD S11.11)[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[20]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[20]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[20]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[20]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[20]≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[20]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[20]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[20]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[20]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[20]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[12]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedSands poorly — gums rather than powders[10]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[10]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[10]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedPolymaker's own conditioning test found PA12-CF10 was the only nylon that did not grow past its original size after moisture conditioning[8]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[21]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[21]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[21]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[21]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[21]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[21]

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. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  2. Fiberon PA12-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-02 · tds
  3. CarbonX CF PA12 Technical Data Sheet v1 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. IEMAI 3D CF-PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. YXPOLYER PA12 CF 500 g — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  9. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  10. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  11. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  13. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  16. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  17. FDM Nylon 12CF — Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2025-09 · tds
  18. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  19. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  20. 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
  21. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds