3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA-CF ESD vs rPETG

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

ESD-safe CF nylon guideRecycled PETG (rPETG) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA-CF ESD comparisonsMore rPETG comparisons
PA-CF ESD vs rPETG — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe CF nylonPARecycled PETG (rPETG)PETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$129.98/kg median; $129.98–$129.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$28.99/kg median; $17.24–$39.98/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryCarbon-filled polyamide compounded to a static-dissipative resistivity — Polymaker's grade uses a PA612 matrix[1]PETG regranulated from recycled polyester waste; Polymaker's Fiberon PETG-rCF08 adds 8 wt% recycled carbon fibre[2][3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.10 (ISO 1183)[1]1.27 (Prusament) and 1.30 (Fiberon PETG-rCF08), ISO 1183[2][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 130[5]1 kg spools cluster near 29[6][7][5][8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg130 at Polymaker's 0.5 kg pricing[5]17–40 across brands; Filament PM RePETG 17, 3DXTech ECOMAX 26, GreenGate3D 32, Fiberon rCF08 40[6][7][5][8]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[5]Available from several mainstream brands[6][7][5]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 1 and 3 kg spools[5][7]
Typical applicationsElectronics jigs and trays that also need nylon toughness and heat resistance[1]Not documented
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.05 (Prusament PETG Recycled), against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PETG[2][9]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented250 ± 10 (Prusament); 230–255 (Spectrum)[2][3]
Bed temperature°CNot documented80 ± 10 (Prusament); 60–80 (Spectrum)[2][3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[10]Open frame is fine — Spectrum states a closed chamber is not necessary[3]
Part cooling fanNot documented50 % (Prusament); up to 100 % (Spectrum)[2][3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[11][10]Textured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[9][12]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[11]Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[9][12]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[10]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[12]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[10][13]Easy — minor profile tuning; Spectrum describes printing as similar to standard PETG[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]Brass fine indefinitely[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — carbon-filled nylon composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA612-ESD[1]Not documented
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[13]Low — recycled PETG prints on the same hardware as virgin PETG: no special hot-end, no drybox and no hardened nozzle[14][15]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[11]Slightly sensitive[14]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[11]No special hot-end required[14]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — the PA612 matrix sits between PA6 and PA12[16][17]Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — recycled PETG shares the virgin matrix, which reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[9]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.07 after 24 h and 0.10 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers)[2]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[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][17]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[13]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[13]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[13][12]
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[18][19]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]43 ± 1.8 printed horizontal at yield, ISO 527-1 (Prusament), against 47 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 52 at yield on moulded specimens[2][9][3]
Young's modulusMPa4293.7 ± 116.4 printed XY dry and 3730.8 ± 156.2 conditioned, ISO 527[1]1500 printed horizontal, 1600 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 527-1) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[2][9]
Elongation at break%3.0 ± 0.1 printed XY dry and 4.2 ± 0.4 conditioned, ISO 527[1]4.5 at yield printed (Prusament); Spectrum quotes 400 at break on moulded specimens[2][3]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented63 ± 1 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament), against 66 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG[2][9]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented1800 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.9 ± 0.4 printed XY dry and 4.9 ± 0.3 conditioned, ISO 179 notched[1]12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 15 ± 3 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[2]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 24.1 ± 2.4 printed XY and 4.5 ± 0.2 printed Z (ISO 179)[1]Charpy unnotched 25 ± 3 printed horizontal and 38 ± 11 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[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]15 ± 5 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test), against 18 ± 4 for virgin Prusament PETG[2][9]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation 3.0 % in XY and 1.4 % in Z[1]Moderate[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[20]74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[2][9]
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[21][1]Below average — no recycled-grade creep test; virgin PETG sagged from 12 to 17.1–20.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[22][23][24][25]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger states carbon-filled PA66 compounds have improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression[21]Moderate — no recycled-grade S-N curve; virgin printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[26]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Slightly flexible in thin sections[2]
Z strength as % of XY%26 (printed Z against XY tensile)[1]Not documented
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C157.0 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]68 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 70[2][9][3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C125.4 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]68 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[2]
Glass transition (Tg)°C41.8 (DSC)[1]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°C187.3 melting (DSC); Vicat 190.0 (ISO 306)[1]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[18]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[27]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[10]Not documented
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[10]Withstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[12]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[10]Not certified for food contact as filament[12]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[10]Not biodegradable[12]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[10]The feedstock itself — Spectrum describes collecting, shredding and re-homogenising PETG waste[3]
Electrical & ESD propertiesStatic-dissipative — the reason the grade exists; Polymaker's insulating nylon composites sit above 10¹² ohm by contrast[1][16]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[28]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[28]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[28]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[28]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[28]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[28]Open a window / occasional ventilation[28]
Dust & fibre handling hazardFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[18]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[11]Sands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[14]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[11]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[14]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[11]No practical vapour smoothing[14]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[14]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[29]No common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[30][31]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[29]Acetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[30]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[29]Dichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[31]

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. Prusament PETG Recycled Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Spectrum r-PETG Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Fiberon PETG-rCF08 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. GreenGate3D Recycled PET-G — product data GreenGate3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Filament PM RePETG technical data sheet Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  9. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  10. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  12. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  17. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  19. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  20. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  21. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  22. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  23. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  24. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  25. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  26. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  27. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  28. 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
  29. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  30. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  31. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc