3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA-CF ESD vs PA6-GF

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

ESD-safe CF nylon guideGlass-fibre PA6 (PA6-GF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA-CF ESD comparisonsMore PA6-GF comparisons
PA-CF ESD vs PA6-GF — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe CF nylonPAGlass-fibre PA6 (PA6-GF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$129.98/kg median; $129.98–$129.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$59.98/kg median; $39.99–$130.00/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryCarbon-filled polyamide compounded to a static-dissipative resistivity — Polymaker's grade uses a PA612 matrix[1]PA6 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — Polymaker's grade is 25 wt%[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.10 (ISO 1183)[1]1.14 (Bambu Lab) and 1.20 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 1183[3][2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 130[4]1 kg-equivalent spools span 40–130; the middle of the market is about 60[3][4][5]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg130 at Polymaker's 0.5 kg pricing[4]40–130 across brands; SUNLU 40, YXPOLYER 45, Polymaker Fiberon and Bambu Lab 60, 3DXTech FibreX 87, Obsidian Nylon 6+GF 130[4][3][6][5][7]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[4]Stocked by most mainstream brands[3][4][6][5][7]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[4]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[4][6][3]
Typical applicationsElectronics jigs and trays that also need nylon toughness and heat resistance[1]Stiff, heat-resistant structural parts where a matte finish and lower cost beat carbon fibre[3][2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented260–290 (Bambu Lab)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[8]Enclosure required (passive) — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[3]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented45–60 (Bambu Lab)[3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[9][8]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[9][8]
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[3][10]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[9]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[9]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[8]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[8]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[8][11]Expert / industrial hardware only[3][11]
Extruder requirementNot documented0.6 mm nozzle recommended by Bambu Lab; 0.4 and 0.8 also supported[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA612-ESD and recommends hardened steel or ruby[1]Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA6-GF25 and recommends hardened steel or ruby[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — carbon-filled nylon composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA612-ESD[1]Highly abrasive — standard GF composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA6-GF25[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[11]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup[11]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[9]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[9]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[9]May require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[9]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — the PA612 matrix sits between PA6 and PA12[12][13]Very high (>2 %) — 2.56 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab) and 3.33 % equilibrium (Polymaker Fiberon), the highest in the dataset[3][2]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented2.56 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 3.33 equilibrium (Polymaker Fiberon PA6-GF25)[3][2]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8–12 h (Bambu Lab)[3]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedPopping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[13]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker publishes dry and wet printed blocks for PA612-ESD itself: at 4.64 % moisture tensile falls 84.3 → 73.6 MPa and modulus 4294 → 3731 MPa[1][13]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[2][13]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[11]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[11]
Hydrolysis at melt temperaturePolymaker 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[14][15]Polymaker 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[14][15]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa84.3 ± 2.3 printed XY dry (annealed 100 °C/16 h), 73.6 ± 2.3 conditioned to 4.64 % moisture, 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)[3][2][16]
Young's modulusMPa4293.7 ± 116.4 printed XY dry and 3730.8 ± 156.2 conditioned, ISO 527[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)[3][2][16]
Elongation at break%3.0 ± 0.1 printed XY dry and 4.2 ± 0.4 conditioned, 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[3][2]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented3670 ± 140 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.9 ± 0.4 printed XY dry and 4.9 ± 0.3 conditioned, ISO 179 notched[1]10.0 ± 0.7 printed XY dry and 28.0 ± 1.0 conditioned, ISO 179 notched (Polymaker Fiberon); Bambu Lab 7.2 ± 2.3[2][3]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 24.1 ± 2.4 printed XY and 4.5 ± 0.2 printed Z (ISO 179)[1]Charpy 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)[3][16]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21.5 ± 2.7 printed Z dry — only a quarter of XY, the most anisotropic nylon composite here; 19.2 ± 1.6 conditioned[1]27 ± 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)[3][2][16]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation 3.0 % in XY and 1.4 % in Z[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2.4 % in XY[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a conductive carbon-filled nylon filament[17]Rockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785)[17]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good. Ensinger rates its PA66-CF30 compound for sustained static and dynamic load at 110 °C continuous service; the PA612 matrix here still takes up 4.64 % moisture at conditioning, which softens it[18][1]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[17][2]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger states carbon-filled PA66 compounds have improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression[18]Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[17]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%26 (printed Z against XY tensile)[1]36 (Bambu Lab) to 76 (Polymaker Fiberon), printed; Stratasys FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR gives 39-41 (ZX against XZ tensile at break, ASTM D638)[3][2][16]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C157.0 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]182 (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)[3][2][16]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C125.4 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]157 (Polymaker Fiberon) and 158 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[3][2]
Glass transition (Tg)°C41.8 (DSC)[1]67 (Bambu Lab) and 70.4 (Polymaker Fiberon), DSC; Stratasys measures 51.5 on FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR (ASTM D7426)[3][2][16]
Melting point / Vicat°C187.3 melting (DSC); Vicat 190.0 (ISO 306)[1]214.5 (Polymaker Fiberon) and 219 (Bambu Lab) melting, DSC; Vicat 210–212 (ISO 306)[3][2]
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)[17][16]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[14]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[14]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[8]Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[8]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[8]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis[8]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedAbsorbs water, properties shift[13]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[8]Not food-contact certified as filament[8]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[8]Not biodegradable[8]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[8]Not accepted in household plastic collection[8]
Electrical & ESD propertiesStatic-dissipative — the reason the grade exists; Polymaker's insulating nylon composites sit above 10¹² ohm by contrast[1][12]Surface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (Polymaker Fiberon, ANSI/ESD S11.11)[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[19]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[19]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[19]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[19]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[19]≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[19]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[19]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[19]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[19]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[19]
Dust & fibre handling hazardFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[14]Glass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[9]Sands poorly — gums rather than powders[9]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[9]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[9]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[9]No practical vapour smoothing[9]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[20]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[20]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[20]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[20]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[20]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[20]

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. Fiberon PA612-ESD Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2025-06 · tds
  2. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  3. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PA6-GF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. SUNLU Nylon-6 Glass Fiber (PA6-GF) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg — product page SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. YXPOLYER PA6-GF Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  9. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  11. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  13. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  15. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  16. FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR — Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2026-07 · tds
  17. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  18. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  19. 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
  20. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds