3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA-CF ESD vs TPU-CF

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

ESD-safe CF nylon guideCarbon-fibre TPU guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA-CF ESD comparisonsMore TPU-CF comparisons
PA-CF ESD vs TPU-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe CF nylonPACarbon-fibre TPUFLEX
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$129.98/kg median; $129.98–$129.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$107.05/kg median; $107.05–$107.05/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryCarbon-filled polyamide compounded to a static-dissipative resistivity — Polymaker's grade uses a PA612 matrix[1]Carbon-fibre reinforced thermoplastic polyurethane at the hard end of the range[2]
Densityg/cm³1.10 (ISO 1183)[1]1.22 (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF, ISO 2781)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 130[3]107 for the only retail listing found (Extrudr 0.5 kg coil, incl. VAT)[4]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg130 at Polymaker's 0.5 kg pricing[3]One listing only: EUR 49.56 incl. VAT per 0.5 kg coil, direct from Extrudr; no reseller or second brand found[4]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[3]Niche, a handful of specialist brands — Extrudr's FLEX HARD CF is the only carbon-filled flexible with a published datasheet found here[2]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[3]1.75 mm; 0.5 and 2 kg coils[4]
Typical applicationsElectronics jigs and trays that also need nylon toughness and heat resistance[1]Stiffened flexible parts — damping mounts and semi-rigid brackets[2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented230–260 (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF)[2]
Bed temperature°CNot documented50–90 (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[5]Open frame is fine[2]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[6][5]PEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[7][8]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented1.6–8 at the 20–100 mm/s Extrudr specifies on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[2]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[6]Not documented
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[5]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[5][9]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; hardened nozzle needed[2]
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 — Extrudr marks FLEX HARD CF as needing a hardened nozzle where its unfilled FLEX grades do not[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — carbon-filled nylon composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA612-ESD[1]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[9]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; a flexible base plus chopped carbon fibre, which Prusa lists as a higher nozzle-clogging risk, and Extrudr requires a hardened nozzle[10][2][7]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[6]Not documented
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[6]No special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[7]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — the PA612 matrix sits between PA6 and PA12[11][12]Moderate[9]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented60 °C for 6 h (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF)[2]
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][12]Polymaker groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials; no dry-versus-conditioned figures are published[9]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[9]Sealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[9]
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[13][14]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]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa4293.7 ± 116.4 printed XY dry and 3730.8 ± 156.2 conditioned, ISO 527[1]35 (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF, ISO 527-2/5A/500)[2]
Elongation at break%3.0 ± 0.1 printed XY dry and 4.2 ± 0.4 conditioned, ISO 527[1]380 ultimate elongation (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF, ISO 527-2/5A/500), against 490 for the unfilled FLEX HARD[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.9 ± 0.4 printed XY dry and 4.9 ± 0.3 conditioned, ISO 179 notched[1]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 24.1 ± 2.4 printed XY and 4.5 ± 0.2 printed Z (ISO 179)[1]Not documented
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]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation 3.0 % in XY and 1.4 % in Z[1]Very ductile — bends far before failing[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[15]70 Shore D (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF, ISO 868), against 58 Shore D for the unfilled FLEX HARD[2]
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[16][1]Below average — no CF-grade creep test; the grade is 70 Shore D where a 95A TPU bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[2][17]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger states carbon-filled PA66 compounds have improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression[16]Good — 380 % ultimate elongation and a damping application set (Extrudr cites longboard wheels), below the unfilled grades[2]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Semi-flexible[2]
Z strength as % of XY%26 (printed Z against XY tensile)[1]Not documented
Wear resistance & frictionNot documentedAbrasion 26 mm³ (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF, ISO 4649-A) — the same as the unfilled FLEX HARD[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C157.0 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C125.4 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C41.8 (DSC)[1]-24 (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF)[2]
Melting point / Vicat°C187.3 melting (DSC); Vicat 190.0 (ISO 306)[1]Vicat A 140 (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF, ISO 306)[2]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[13]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[5]Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[8]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[5]Withstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[8]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[5]Not food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[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][11]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[18]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[18]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[18]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[18]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[18]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[18]Open a window / occasional ventilation[18]
Dust & fibre handling hazardFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[13]Carbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[6]Difficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[8]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[6]Cyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[8]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[6]No practical vapour smoothing[8]
Support material pairingNot documentedPolymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[8]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedTear strength 165 kN/m (Extrudr FLEX HARD CF, ISO 34-1B)[2]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[19]DMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve the TPU matrix and leave the fibre; ketones are partial solvents. Laboratory reagents.[20]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[19]Toluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; esters swell it severely; ethanol and IPA soften it.[20]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[19]None practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[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. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  3. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. Extrudr TPU FLEX Hard CF — product page (1.75 mm, 0.5 and 2 kg coils, price) Extrudr (FD3D GmbH) · 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. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  8. TPU — 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. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  12. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  14. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  15. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  16. TECACOMP PA66 CF30 black — injection-moulding compound Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  17. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  18. 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
  19. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  20. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds