3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA11 vs PA6-GF

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

PA11 (Nylon 11) guideGlass-fibre PA6 (PA6-GF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA11 comparisonsMore PA6-GF comparisons
PA11 vs PA6-GF — documented properties and sources
PropertyPA11 (Nylon 11)PAGlass-fibre PA6 (PA6-GF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$194.98/kg median; $194.98–$194.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$59.98/kg median; $39.99–$130.00/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyamide 11, polymerised from castor-oil-derived aminoundecanoic acid — a bio-based nylon[1][2]PA6 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — Polymaker's grade is 25 wt%[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.02 (ISO 1183)[1]1.14 (Bambu Lab) and 1.20 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 1183[4][3]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools span 40–130; the middle of the market is about 60[4][5][6]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented40–130 across brands; SUNLU 40, YXPOLYER 45, Polymaker Fiberon and Bambu Lab 60, 3DXTech FibreX 87, Obsidian Nylon 6+GF 130[5][4][7][6][8]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[2]Stocked by most mainstream brands[4][5][7][6][8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[2]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[5][7][4]
Typical applicationsTough, chemically resistant functional parts; Prusa targets it at impact-loaded and vibration-loaded components[2]Stiff, heat-resistant structural parts where a matte finish and lower cost beat carbon fibre[4][3]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.02 (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C275 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]260–290 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Bed temperature°C100 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — Prusament specifies a 55 ± 5 °C chamber[1]Enclosure required (passive) — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[4]
Recommended chamber temperature°C55 ± 5 (Prusament)[1]45–60 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPA nylon sheet (Prusament)[1]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[9][10]
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[4][11]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds a specific surface plus adhesive[9]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed[10]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[1][10]Expert / industrial hardware only[4][12]
Extruder requirementPrusa printed its test specimens with a high-flow CHT nozzle[1]0.6 mm nozzle recommended by Bambu Lab; 0.4 and 0.8 also supported[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[10]Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA6-GF25 and recommends hardened steel or ruby[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive when unfilled[10]Highly abrasive — standard GF composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h on PA6-GF25[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[12]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup[12]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedModerate — good heatbreak cooling needed[9]
Hotend requirementNot documentedMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[9]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — Prusa measures 0.46 % after 7 days at 22 % RH, but PA11 sits between PA12 and PA6 in the family[1][12]Very high (>2 %) — 2.56 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab) and 3.33 % equilibrium (Polymaker Fiberon), the highest in the dataset[4][3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.26 after 24 h and 0.46 after 7 days (Prusa Polymers method)[1]2.56 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 3.33 equilibrium (Polymaker Fiberon PA6-GF25)[4][3]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8–12 h (Bambu Lab)[4]
Symptoms when wetPopping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[13]Popping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[13]
Effect of moisture on strengthPrusa publishes no dry-versus-conditioned columns; the CoPA reference shows the PA-family response — stiffness and strength fall sharply, impact and elongation rise[13][14]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[3][13]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[12]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[12]
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureNot documentedPolymaker 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[15][14]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa38.3 ± 0.8 printed horizontal and 39.5 ± 0.5 printed vertical at yield, ISO 527-1[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)[4][3][16]
Young's modulusMPa1200 printed, both orientations, ISO 527-1[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)[4][3][16]
Elongation at break%5.6 ± 0.1 at yield, printed, ISO 527-1[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[4][3]
Flexural modulusMPa1100 printed horizontal and 1000 printed vertical, ISO 178[1]3670 ± 140 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab)[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12.9 ± 2.1 printed horizontal and 11.7 ± 1.2 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 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[3][4]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy 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)[4][16]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32 ± 1 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test) — the highest interlayer figure Prusa publishes for any of its filaments[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)[4][3][16]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation at break 2.4 % in XY[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell70 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method)[1]Rockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785)[17]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedGood. 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][3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[10]Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[17]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Semi-flexible[1]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%84 — Prusa publishes a tensile anisotropy coefficient of 0.84, the ratio of Z to XY tensile strength[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)[4][3][16]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C58.7 (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)[4][3][16]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C49.9 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]157 (Polymaker Fiberon) and 158 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[4][3]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented67 (Bambu Lab) and 70.4 (Polymaker Fiberon), DSC; Stratasys measures 51.5 on FDM PA6/66-GF30-FR (ASTM D7426)[4][3][16]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented214.5 (Polymaker Fiberon) and 219 (Bambu Lab) melting, DSC; Vicat 210–212 (ISO 306)[4][3]
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 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[15]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedMonths outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[10]
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[10]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Absorbs water, properties shift[13]Absorbs water, properties shift[13]
Food contactNot documentedNot food-contact certified as filament[10]
Biodegradability / compostabilityBio-based — the monomer comes from castor oil[2]Not biodegradable[10]
RecyclabilityNot documentedNot accepted in household plastic collection[10]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (Polymaker Fiberon, ANSI/ESD S11.11)[3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[18]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[18]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[18]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[18]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[18]≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[18]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[18]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[18]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[18]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[18]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[3]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedSands poorly — gums rather than powders[9]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[9]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[9]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDissolved at 23 °C by formic acid, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — all laboratory reagents.[19][20]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[19]
Softened or crazed byMineral acids, oxidants, halogens and zinc chloride solutions attack the amide bond; ordinary solvents do not (BASF, PA6/66).[19]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[19]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[19]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[19]

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. Prusament PA11 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2026-07 · tds
  2. Prusament PA11 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  3. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PA6-GF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. SUNLU Nylon-6 Glass Fiber (PA6-GF) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg — product page SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. YXPOLYER PA6-GF Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  10. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  15. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · 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. 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. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds