3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA aramid vs PC-ESD

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

Aramid-fibre nylon guideESD-safe PC guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA aramid comparisonsMore PC-ESD comparisons
PA aramid vs PC-ESD — documented properties and sources
PropertyAramid-fibre nylonPAESD-safe PCPC
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshotsNot documented$180.00/kg median; $180.00–$180.00/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryAramid-fibre reinforced polyamide[1]Polycarbonate compounded with a conductive filler for static-dissipative parts[2]
Densityg/cm³Not documented1.24 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech); Stratasys specific gravity 1.195 (ASTM D792)[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 180[4]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented180 at 3DXTech's 750 g pricing — the most expensive material in this group[4]
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[5][4]Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[4]
Spool sizes & diametersNot documented1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools plus Stratasys-compatible cartridges[4]
Typical applicationsNot documentedElectronics fixtures and trays that need PC heat resistance and static dissipation together[2]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — as for every nylon[1]Enclosure required (passive)[6][7]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedPEI with a glue stick or a commercial adhesive[8]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedSevere — heated chamber needed[6][7]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds a specific surface plus adhesive[8][9]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem[9]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Not documentedAdvanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[6]
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[10]Hardened steel required[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — fibre-reinforced nylon composite[10]Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[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[11]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a 120 °C pre-dry[12]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedSlightly sensitive[8]
Hotend requirementNot documentedAll-metal hot end required (Simplify3D)[8]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Very high (>2 %) — the polyamide matrix governs uptake[13]Low (0.1–0.3 %) — the PC matrix takes up 0.15–0.25 % and 3DXTech specifies a 120 °C, 4 h pre-dry[14][15][12]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[13]
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][17]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published. Polymaker calls PC highly hygroscopic and requires a 70–80 °C dry for 6–8 h; run wet, the loss shows as surface defects and poor layer adhesion[9][13]
Storage requirementNot documentedAirtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[9]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented68 at break (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech) — above the 58 of 3DXTech's unfilled ezPC; Stratasys prints 47.6-49.4 at yield in XZ (ASTM D638)[2][18][3]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented2300 (printed XY, ISO 527); Stratasys prints 1960 in XZ and 1810-1910 in ZX (ASTM D638)[2][3]
Elongation at break%Not documented6 at break (printed XY, ISO 527), against 14 for the unfilled grade[2][18]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented95 (printed XY, ISO 178); Stratasys prints 82.6-83.2 at break in XZ against 46.3-49.5 in ZX (ASTM D790)[2][3]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2310 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented32.5-37.9 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D638 on the Fortus 450mc and F900)[3]
Brittleness1–5Not documentedModerate[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documentedRockwell 70 (118) — the source does not name the scales and Shore D 79 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D785, D2240); no figure is published for an ESD grade[19]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedExcellent — holds load for years. Moulded unfilled PC was still running unbroken under 41 MPa tensile creep at room temperature when the test was stopped, and the conductive filler leaves the glass transition unchanged at 142 °C, so the creep mechanism is polycarbonate's[20][3]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Not documentedRigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented68-77 (Stratasys ZX against XZ tensile yield, ASTM D638)[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented143-146 printed in XY, XZ and ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi); 135 moulded[3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented140-144 printed in XY, XZ and ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi); 124 moulded[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented143 (DSC, 3DXTech) and 142 (Stratasys, ASTM D7426)[2][3]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend[15]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented68.4 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D696; source states 3.8e-5 in/in/°F); no figure is published for a conductive-filled grade[19]
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[9]
Food contactNot documentedBisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[9]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot documentedNot biodegradable[9]
RecyclabilityNot documentedMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[9]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance 10⁷–10⁹ ohm/sq, the static-dissipative band (ASTM D257), against above 10¹³ for unfilled ezPC[2][18]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[21]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[21]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[21]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[21]≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[21]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[21]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[21]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[21][6]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedSands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[8]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[8]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[8]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[8]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[22]Dichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[23]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[22]Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[23]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[22]Dichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[24]

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. 3DXSTAT ESD-PC Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. PC-ESD — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2024-10 · tds
  4. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  7. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  8. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  9. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  11. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  12. 3DXSTAT ESD-PC — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  15. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  16. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  17. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. ezPC Polycarbonate Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  19. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  20. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  21. 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
  22. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  23. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  24. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds