3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA-CF ESD vs PETG-GF

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

ESD-safe CF nylon guideGlass-fibre polyester (PETG-GF / PET-GF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA-CF ESD comparisonsMore PETG-GF comparisons
PA-CF ESD vs PETG-GF — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe CF nylonPAGlass-fibre polyester (PETG-GF / PET-GF)PETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$129.98/kg median; $129.98–$129.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$27.38/kg median; $18.99–$29.99/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryCarbon-filled polyamide compounded to a static-dissipative resistivity — Polymaker's grade uses a PA612 matrix[1]Glass-fibre reinforced polyester. Polymaker's Fiberon PET-GF15 uses a PET rather than a PETG matrix and carries 15 wt% glass fibre[2]
Densityg/cm³1.10 (ISO 1183)[1]1.43 (Fiberon PET-GF15, ISO 1183)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 130[3]1 kg spools cluster near 25[4][3]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg130 at Polymaker's 0.5 kg pricing[3]19–30 across brands; ELEGOO 19, Polymaker Fiberon 30[4][3]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[3]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[4][3]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[3]1.75 mm; 0.5 and 1 kg spools[3]
Typical applicationsElectronics jigs and trays that also need nylon toughness and heat resistance[1]Stiff, dimensionally stable fixtures; the Fiberon grade is designed to be annealed for heat resistance[2]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[5]Not documented
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[6][5]Textured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[7][8]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[6]Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[7][8]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[5]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[8]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[5][9]Not documented
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[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[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[9]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Prusa lists higher risk of nozzle clogging for glass-filled composites[10]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[6]Slightly sensitive[11]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[6]No special hot-end required[11]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — the PA612 matrix sits between PA6 and PA12[12][13]Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — the PETG matrix reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH; no glass-filled grade publishes its own figure[7]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[9]
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 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[9]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[9]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[9][8]
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]Not documented
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]59.9 ± 0.8 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Young's modulusMPa4293.7 ± 116.4 printed XY dry and 3730.8 ± 156.2 conditioned, ISO 527[1]4144 ± 133 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Elongation at break%3.0 ± 0.1 printed XY dry and 4.2 ± 0.4 conditioned, ISO 527[1]4.0 ± 0.5 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented104.2 ± 2.4 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented3705 ± 85 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.9 ± 0.4 printed XY dry and 4.9 ± 0.3 conditioned, ISO 179 notched[1]8.7 ± 0.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 24.1 ± 2.4 printed XY and 4.5 ± 0.2 printed Z (ISO 179)[1]Charpy unnotched 27.2 ± 2.0 printed XY (Fiberon PET-GF15, ISO 179)[2]
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]48.2 ± 0.3 printed Z, ISO 527 (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation 3.0 % in XY and 1.4 % in Z[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation 4.0 % in XY and 2.6 % in Z[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[16]Not documented
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[17][1]Below average — no GF-grade creep test; the CF grades sagged to 14.8–16.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg against 17.1–20.4 mm unfilled[18][19][20]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger states carbon-filled PA66 compounds have improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression[17]Below average — no GF-grade S-N curve; elongation at break falls to 4.0 % in XY against 5.2–9.3 % unfilled[2][21]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%26 (printed Z against XY tensile)[1]80 (Fiberon PET-GF15, printed Z against XY tensile)[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C157.0 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]81.6 as printed, 133.7 after annealing (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[2]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C125.4 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]71.8 as printed, 87.3 after annealing (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[2]
Glass transition (Tg)°C41.8 (DSC)[1]59.5 (DSC)[2]
Melting point / Vicat°C187.3 melting (DSC); Vicat 190.0 (ISO 306)[1]231.6 melting (DSC); Vicat 232.6 (ISO 306)[2]
Annealing responseNot documentedAnnealing lifts HDT at 0.45 MPa from 81.6 to 133.7 °C[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented20 along the print bead and 63–74 in the build direction at 30 °C (30 wt% GF, large-format printed, TMA)[22]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[14]UL 94 HB at 1.5 mm (Fiberon PET-GF15)[2]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[5]Not documented
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[5]Withstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[8]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[5]Not certified for food contact as filament[8]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[5]Not biodegradable[8]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[5]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 (Fiberon PET-GF15, ANSI/ESD S11.11)[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[23]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[23]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[23]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[23]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[23]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[23]Open a window / occasional ventilation[23]
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[6]Sands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[11]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[6]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[11]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[6]No practical vapour smoothing[11]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[11]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[24]No common workshop solvent; dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the matrix surface, 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it in a week.[25][26]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[24]Acetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[25]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[24]Dichloromethane reaches only the resin, so the fibre is left standing proud of the surface. Controlled carcinogen.[26]

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 PET-GF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  6. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  7. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  8. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  9. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  11. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 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. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  17. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  18. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  19. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  20. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  21. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  22. Effects of Fiber Orientation on the Coefficient of Thermal Expansion of Fiber-Filled Polymer Systems in Large Format Polymer Extrusion-Based Additive Manufacturing Materials 15(8):2764 · 2022-04 · paper
  23. 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
  24. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  25. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  26. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc