3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA-CF ESD vs PETG

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

ESD-safe CF nylon guidePETG guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA-CF ESD comparisonsMore PETG comparisons
PA-CF ESD vs PETG — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe CF nylonPAPETGPETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$129.98/kg median; $129.98–$129.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$19.99/kg median; $8.99–$69.99/kg across 21 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryCarbon-filled polyamide compounded to a static-dissipative resistivity — Polymaker's grade uses a PA612 matrix[1]Polyethylene terephthalate glycol copolymer — PET with a glycol comonomer that suppresses crystallisation[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.10 (ISO 1183)[1]1.24–1.30 (ISO 1183)[2][3][4][5]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 130[6]1 kg spools cluster near 20[7][6][8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg130 at Polymaker's 0.5 kg pricing[6]12–70 across brands; IEMAI 12, ELEGOO 14, CHCKX 14, Bambu Lab 18–20, Hatchbox 26, Prusament 38, Prusament PETG V0 70[7][6][9][8][10][11]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[6]Ubiquitous, every brand and retailer[7][6][12][8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[6]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75, 0.8 and 1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[6][8]
Typical applicationsElectronics jigs and trays that also need nylon toughness and heat resistance[1]Functional parts, enclosures and outdoor fittings that need more toughness and heat tolerance than PLA[2][3]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.02 (Prusament)[2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented230–260 across brands; Prusament 250 ± 10, Polymaker 240–260[2][3][5]
Bed temperature°CNot documented60–90; Prusament 80 ± 10, Polymaker 60–70[2][5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[13]Open frame is fine[5]
Part cooling fanNot documentedAround 50 %; Polymaker specifies 20–60 %, less than PLA to protect layer bonding[2][5]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[14][13]Textured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets. On smooth PEI a glue stick is used as a release agent, not an adhesive — PETG bonds to bare PEI hard enough to tear the sheet[2][5]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented8–15 (PrusaSlicer guidance); My Tech Fun ran Bambu Lab PETG Basic at 13 mm³/s[15][16]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedSlight — corner lift on large flat parts[2][5]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[14]Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[2]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[13]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[2][5]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[13][17]Easy — minor profile tuning[5]
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[15]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — carbon-filled nylon composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA612-ESD[1]Non-abrasive[5]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[17]Low — no special hot-end required and clogging is not among the listed drawbacks; Prusa lists no drybox and no hardened nozzle[18][19]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[14]Slightly sensitive[18]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[14]No special hot-end required[18]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — the PA612 matrix sits between PA6 and PA12[20][21]Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — Bambu Lab reports 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH; Prusa measures only 0.07 % in 24 h and 0.10 % in 7 days at the drier 22 % RH[2][22]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.10 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers); 0.40 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[2][22]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented60–65 °C for 6–8 h[5][22]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[2]
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][21]Polymaker groups PETG with nylon, PVA and TPU as highly hygroscopic and shows a before-and-after-drying comparison; the loss appears as poor layer adhesion and weak, brittle layers rather than a published dry-versus-conditioned figure[17]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[17]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[17][23]
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[24][25]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]38–51 (printed XY, ISO 527); Prusament 47 ± 2 at yield; 62 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm bars[2][3][4][26]
Young's modulusMPa4293.7 ± 116.4 printed XY dry and 3730.8 ± 156.2 conditioned, ISO 527[1]1500–2311 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2][3][4][5]
Elongation at break%3.0 ± 0.1 printed XY dry and 4.2 ± 0.4 conditioned, ISO 527[1]5.2–9.3 at break (printed XY, ISO 527); Prusament 5.1 at yield[3][4][5][2]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented58–80 (printed XY, ISO 178); Prusament 66 ± 2[2][3][4][5]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented1068–2277 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2][3][4][5]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.9 ± 0.4 printed XY dry and 4.9 ± 0.3 conditioned, ISO 179 notched[1]2.6 (PolyLite) to 11.6 (PolyMax) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; Prusament 6 ± 1[3][4][2]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 24.1 ± 2.4 printed XY and 4.5 ± 0.2 printed Z (ISO 179)[1]Charpy unnotched does not break on Prusa's 4 J pendulum (ISO 179-1); Izod 3.37 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars[2][26]
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]18 ± 4 (Prusa interlayer adhesion test); 42.8 printed Z for PolyLite PETG; 33 on My Tech Fun bars[2][3][26]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation 3.0 % in XY and 1.4 % in Z[1]Moderate[2][3]
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[27]74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method); measured on printed bars at 68.2 for Extrudr PETG, 72 for Fiberlogy PETG and 72.8 for Prusament PETG[2][26][28][29]
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[30][1]Below average — a 12 mm bar sagged to 18.2 mm (Fiberlogy) and 19.4 mm (Bambu Lab Basic) over 5 days at 1.25 kg[26][16]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger states carbon-filled PA66 compounds have improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression[30]Moderate — 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength, about three times printed PLA (R = 0.2, 7 Hz)[31]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Slightly flexible in thin sections[2]
Z strength as % of XY%26 (printed Z against XY tensile)[1]84 (PolyLite, printed Z against XY tensile)[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C157.0 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]68 (Prusament) to 78 (PolyLite), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[2][3][5]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C125.4 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]65 (Polymaker) to 75 (PolyLite), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; Prusament 68[2][3][5]
Glass transition (Tg)°C41.8 (DSC)[1]71–81 (DSC)[3][4][5]
Melting point / Vicat°C187.3 melting (DSC); Vicat 190.0 (ISO 306)[1]Amorphous — no melting point; Vicat 75–84 (ISO 306)[3][4][5]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented61–66 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature across six grades from four brands; Prusa publishes 68 for Prusament PETG[26][28][29][16][32]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented65 at 30 °C (neat PETG, large-format printed bead, TMA)[33]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[24]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard PETG, though flame-retardant V0 grades exist[34][23]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[13]Moderate — a season or two[2]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[13]Withstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure — Polymaker names outdoor use as a result[23]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — minor absorption[2]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[13]PET is the polymer of drinks bottles, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria and no filament here carries a food-contact certification[23]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[13]Not biodegradable[23]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[13]PET is widely recycled as bottle stock, but printed PETG waste is not accepted in household collection[23]
Electrical & ESD propertiesStatic-dissipative — the reason the grade exists; Polymaker's insulating nylon composites sit above 10¹² ohm by contrast[1][20]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[35]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[35]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[35]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[35]≈5 × 10⁹ median for the PET-based T-Glase filament in the same chamber study, against ≈1 × 10⁸ for PLA[35]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[35]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[35]Open a window / occasional ventilation[35]
Dust & fibre handling hazardFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[24]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[14]Sands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[18]
Painting & finishingNot documentedPaint adheres poorly without abrasion and a primer[2]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[14]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[18]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[14]No practical vapour smoothing[2]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[18]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedStringing and blobbing are the usual accuracy limits, not shrinkage[2][5]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[36]No common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[37][38]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[36]Acetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[37]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[36]Dichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[38]

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 Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  3. PolyLite PETG Technical Data Sheet Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  4. PolyMax PETG Technical Data Sheet Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Polymaker PETG Technical Data Sheet Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. PETG Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Black PETG Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg — product data Hatchbox · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. IEMAI PETG 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. CHCKX PETG 3D Printer Filament 1.75 mm 1 kg, Black CHCKX (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  16. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  17. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  21. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PETG HF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  23. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  25. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  26. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  27. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  28. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  29. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  30. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  31. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  32. Prusament PETG — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  33. 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
  34. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  35. 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
  36. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  37. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  38. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc