3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA11 vs PC-FR

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

PA11 (Nylon 11) guideFlame-retardant PC (PC-FR) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA11 comparisonsMore PC-FR comparisons
PA11 vs PC-FR — documented properties and sources
PropertyPA11 (Nylon 11)PAFlame-retardant PC (PC-FR)PC
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$194.98/kg median; $194.98–$194.98/kg across 1 dated product listings$87.50/kg median; $54.99–$224.00/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyamide 11, polymerised from castor-oil-derived aminoundecanoic acid — a bio-based nylon[1][2]Flame-retardant polycarbonate. Polymaker builds its grade on Covestro's Makrolon family and rates it UL 94 V-0[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.02 (ISO 1183)[1]1.18 (Bambu Lab) and 1.2 (Polymaker), ISO 1183[4][3]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools span 55–224; the two mainstream 1 kg grades are 55 and the industrial grades 120–224[4][5]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented55–224 across brands; Bambu Lab and Polymaker 55, 3DXTech FR PC/ABS 120, 3DXLABS FR-PC 224[4][5][6]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[2]Available from several mainstream brands[4][5][6]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[2]1.75 mm; 0.75 and 1 kg spools[5][6][4]
Typical applicationsTough, chemically resistant functional parts; Prusa targets it at impact-loaded and vibration-loaded components[2]Electrical enclosures, transport interiors and battery housings that must meet a flammability rating[3][4]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.02 (Prusament)[1]±0.03 (Bambu Lab PC FR)[4]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C275 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]260–280 (Bambu Lab); 250–270 (Polymaker)[4][3]
Bed temperature°C100 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]90–110 (Bambu Lab); 90–105 (Polymaker)[4][3]
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, Polymaker 70–100 °C[4][3]
Recommended chamber temperature°C55 ± 5 (Prusament)[1]45–60 (Bambu Lab); 70–100 (Polymaker)[4][3]
Part cooling fanNot documented0–60 % (Bambu Lab)[4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPA nylon sheet (Prusament)[1]Smooth or textured PEI plate (Bambu Lab)[4]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented24 at Bambu Lab's 300 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[4][7]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedSevere — heated chamber needed[3][8]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedNeeds a specific surface plus adhesive[9][10]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem[10]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[1][11]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[4][8]
Extruder requirementPrusa printed its test specimens with a high-flow CHT nozzle[1]Not documented
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[11]Brass fine indefinitely[8]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive when unfilled[11]Non-abrasive[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[12]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a 6 h pre-dry at 80 °C[13]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedSlightly sensitive[9]
Hotend requirementNot documentedAll-metal hot end required (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]Low (0.1–0.3 %) — 0.12 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab), half that of unfilled Bambu Lab PC[4][14]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.26 after 24 h and 0.46 after 7 days (Prusa Polymers method)[1]0.12 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[4]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)[3]
Symptoms when wetPopping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[15]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[12]
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[15][16]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published. Polymaker calls PC highly hygroscopic and requires a 70–80 °C dry for 6–8 h; run wet, the loss shows as surface defects and poor layer adhesion[10][12]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[12]Airtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[10]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa38.3 ± 0.8 printed horizontal and 39.5 ± 0.5 printed vertical at yield, ISO 527-1[1]60 ± 4 (Bambu Lab) and 67 ± 4.5 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527[4][3]
Young's modulusMPa1200 printed, both orientations, ISO 527-1[1]1670 ± 40 (Bambu Lab) and 2634 ± 182 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527[4][3]
Elongation at break%5.6 ± 0.1 at yield, printed, ISO 527-1[1]2.4 ± 0.3 (Bambu Lab) and 3.49 ± 0.7 (Polymaker) at break, printed XY, ISO 527 — the retardant roughly halves unfilled PC's elongation[4][3][17]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented96.6 ± 1.3 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker)[3]
Flexural modulusMPa1100 printed horizontal and 1000 printed vertical, ISO 178[1]2518 ± 53 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker)[3]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12.9 ± 2.1 printed horizontal and 11.7 ± 1.2 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched[1]11.7 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Polymaker)[3]
Other impact dataNot documentedNotched Charpy 7.5 ± 1.6 kJ/m² at −30 °C printed XY (Polymaker, ISO 179-1/1eA)[3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32 ± 1 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test) — the highest interlayer figure Prusa publishes for any of its filaments[1]21 ± 3 (Bambu Lab) and 46 ± 4.8 (Polymaker) printed Z, ISO 527[4][3]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1]Moderate[4][3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell70 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method)[1]Rockwell 70 (118) — the source does not name the scales and Shore D 79 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D785, D2240); no figure is published for a flame-retardant filament[18]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedGood. Moulded unfilled PC sustained 41 MPa tensile creep at room temperature without breaking, but the retardant package drops the glass transition to 115 °C in Polymaker's grade, so the unfilled rating is not carried over in full[19][3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[11]Not documented
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Semi-flexible[1]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%84 — Prusa publishes a tensile anisotropy coefficient of 0.84, the ratio of Z to XY tensile strength[1]35 (Bambu Lab) to 69 (Polymaker), printed[4][3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C58.7 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[1]110 (Polymaker) and 113 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[3][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C49.9 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]107 (Polymaker) and 108 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[3][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented115 (Polymaker) and 145 (Bambu Lab), DSC[3][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 114 (Bambu Lab, ISO 306)[4]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend[20]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented68.4 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D696; source states 3.8e-5 in/in/°F); no figure is published for a flame-retardant grade[18]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedUL 94 V-0 (Polymaker PolyMax PC-FR); 3DXTech rates its FR PC/ABS V-0 at 1.5 mm on the base resin[3][21]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors unless stabilised[10]
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[10]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Absorbs water, properties shift[15]Not documented
Food contactNot documentedBisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[10]
Biodegradability / compostabilityBio-based — the monomer comes from castor oil[2]Not biodegradable[10]
RecyclabilityNot documentedMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[10]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[22]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[22]
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[22]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[22]≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[22]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[22]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[22]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[22][8]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedSands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[9]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[9]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[9]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[9]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDissolved at 23 °C by formic acid, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — all laboratory reagents.[23][24]Dichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[25]
Softened or crazed byMineral acids, oxidants, halogens and zinc chloride solutions attack the amide bond; ordinary solvents do not (BASF, PA6/66).[23]Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[25]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[23]Dichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A 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. Prusament PA11 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2026-07 · tds
  2. Prusament PA11 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  3. PolyMax PC-FR Technical Data Sheet V5.5 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — PC FR Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  8. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  9. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  10. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. 3DXTech Firewire FR-PC/ABS product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  15. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  17. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  18. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  19. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  20. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  21. Firewire Flame Retardant PC/ABS Technical Data Sheet Rev 3.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  22. 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
  23. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  24. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  25. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  26. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds