3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA12-GF vs PA6-CF

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

Glass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF) guideCarbon-fibre PA6 (PA6-CF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA12-GF comparisonsMore PA6-CF comparisons
PA12-GF vs PA6-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PACarbon-fibre PA6 (PA6-CF)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings$62.48/kg median; $39.00–$133.32/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[1]PA6 reinforced with chopped carbon fibre — Polymaker's grade is 20 wt%[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.23 (ISO 1183)[1]1.09 (Bambu Lab), 1.17 (Polymaker Fiberon and 3DXTech), ISO 1183[3][2][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 46–140; the middle of the market is about 88[5][6][7]1 kg-equivalent spools span 39–133; the middle of the market is about 80[3][8][9][10]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg46–140 across brands; IEMAI 3D 46, 3DXTech 131 at 750 g and 130 at 2 kg, PrimaCreator NylonPower Glass Fiber 140 at 500 g[5][6][7]39–133 across brands; IEMAI 3D 39, Bambu Lab 43, YXPOLYER 45, Polymaker Fiberon 80, 3DXTech CarbonX 83, Obsidian 133[3][8][11][5][9][10]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[5][6]Stocked by most mainstream brands[3][8][5][11][9][10]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[5][7]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 2 kg spools[8][5][3]
Typical applicationsStiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[1][12]Load-bearing brackets, tooling and drone frames that must hold strength above 150 °C[3][2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented260–290 (Bambu Lab); 280–300 (Polymaker Fiberon)[3][2]
Bed temperature°CNot documented40–50 (Polymaker Fiberon)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[13]Enclosure required (passive) — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber, Polymaker room temperature[3][2]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented45–60 (Bambu Lab); room temperature (Polymaker Fiberon)[3][2]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[14][13]Engineering or high-temperature plate with glue (Bambu Lab)[3]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented8 at Bambu Lab's 100 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer; Polymaker rates its grade to 300 mm/s[3][2][15]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[14]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[3]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[13]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[13]Expert / industrial hardware only — enclosure, hardened nozzle, an 80 °C dry and a printer that can hold the filament dry throughout[3][2][16]
Extruder requirementNot documented0.6 mm nozzle recommended by Bambu Lab; 0.4 and 0.8 also supported[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required — no nozzle-life figure is published for a PA12-GF30 grade; Polymaker measures about 9 h of brass nozzle life on its comparable fibre-filled nylons[2]Hardened steel required — Polymaker measures brass nozzle life at about 9 h on PA6-CF20 and recommends hardened steel or ruby[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[2]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite; Polymaker puts brass nozzle life at roughly 9 h[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[16]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; the combination of moisture and fibre is the worst case in the dataset[16][2]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[14]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[14]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[14]Hardened steel or ruby nozzle plus an all-metal hot end rated to 300 °C[2][3]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5High (0.8–2 %) — the PA12 matrix takes up far less than PA6, on the evidence of Polymaker's 1.5 % for PA12-CF10 against 3.33 % for PA6-GF25[17][18]Very high (>2 %) — 2.35 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented2.35 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[3]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8–12 h (Bambu Lab); 100 °C for 10 h (Polymaker Fiberon)[3][2]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedPopping and cracking during extrusion, then hard-to-diagnose defects[12]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker's PA12 grades change little between wet and dry, unlike PA6; the CoPA dry-to-wet blocks show the PA6-type response[12][19]Polymaker publishes dry and wet printed blocks for PA6-CF20 itself: at 5.30 % moisture tensile falls 109.3 → 54.7 MPa and modulus 8636 → 2508 MPa, while notched Charpy rises 11.0 → 35.6 kJ/m². Fibre reinforcement reduces but does not remove the effect[2][12]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[16]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant; often needs to stay in a dryer while printing[16]
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[2][19]Polymaker 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[2][19]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]102 ± 7 (Bambu Lab) and 109.3 ± 2.4 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry/annealed) printed XY, ISO 527; the Fiberon grade falls to 54.7 ± 1.1 conditioned to 5.30 % moisture; 3DXTech quotes 63 at break[3][2][4]
Young's modulusMPa7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]4430 ± 310 (Bambu Lab) and 8636 ± 211 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry/annealed) printed XY, ISO 527; Fiberon falls to 2508 ± 83 conditioned; 3DXTech quotes 3800[3][2][4]
Elongation at break%4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[1][18]5.8 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab); 3DXTech quotes 3 at break[3][4]
Flexural strengthMPa94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]161.0 ± 3.9 printed XY dry, 64.9 ± 4.9 conditioned, ISO 178 (Polymaker Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 84[2][4]
Flexural modulusMPa7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]7038 ± 205 printed XY dry and 2286 ± 185 conditioned, ISO 178 (Polymaker Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 3750[2][4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented11.0 ± 0.3 printed XY dry and 35.6 ± 1.2 conditioned, ISO 179 notched (Polymaker Fiberon)[2]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 24.0 ± 1.0 printed XY dry and 73.0 ± 2.0 conditioned, 7.5 ± 2.7 printed Z dry (Polymaker Fiberon); Bambu Lab 40.3 ± 2.5 unnotched, 13.4 ± 1.7 notched[2][3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented48 ± 6 (Bambu Lab) and 54.0 ± 5.2 (Polymaker Fiberon, dry) printed Z, ISO 527; Fiberon falls to 25.5 ± 1.2 conditioned[3][2]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Moderate[3][2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a glass-fibre PA12 filament[20]Rockwell M88 / R117 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a carbon-fibre nylon filament[20]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good. Ensinger lists high creep resistance for extruded PA66-GF30 stock, and the PA12 matrix absorbs far less water than PA6, so a PA12-GF part holds load better in a humid environment[20][13]Good. Ensinger rates its PA66-CF30 injection-moulding compound for exceptional performance under both static and dynamic loading with 110 °C continuous service; in a printed part the fibre restrains the matrix, but conditioning to equilibrium moisture still softens it[21][12]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[20]Good. Ensinger states its PA66-CF30 compound has improved fatigue strength in tension, flexure and compression against unfilled and glass-filled PA66[21]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented47 (Bambu Lab) to 49 (Polymaker Fiberon), printed[3][2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented186 (Bambu Lab) and 215 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[3][2]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented164 (Bambu Lab) and 173 (Polymaker Fiberon), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[3][2]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented68 (Bambu Lab) to 74.2 (Polymaker Fiberon), DSC; 3DXTech quotes 70[3][2][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented223 melting (Bambu Lab, DSC); Vicat 212 (ISO 306)[3]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documentedBounded by heat deflection of 164–173 °C at 1.8 MPa; no loaded-bar service figure is published[3][2]
Annealing responseNot documented100 °C for 16 h (Polymaker Fiberon)[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K48.6 on extruded PA66-GF30 stock (ASTM D696; source states 2.7e-5 in/in/°F) — no figure is published for a glass-fibre PA12 filament[20]94 in the XY direction and 180 in Z, measured on XY-built specimens (79 and 148 on XZ/ZX-built specimens), room temperature to 60 °C, ASTM E831. From Stratasys FDM Nylon-CF10, a blended-nylon matrix with 10 wt% carbon fibre — the closest published printed CTE for a carbon-fibre nylon[22]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[2]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[2]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[13]Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows and chalks under UV[13]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[13]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis[13]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[12]Absorbs water, properties shift[12]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[13]Not food-contact certified[13]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[13]Not biodegradable[13]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[13]Fibre-filled polyamide is not accepted in household plastic collection[13]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Surface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[23]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[23]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[23]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[23]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[23]≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[23]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[23]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[23]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[23]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[23]
Dust & fibre handling hazardGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[14]Sands to a matte finish; the fibre makes it cut more cleanly than unfilled nylon[14]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[14]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[14]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[14]No practical vapour smoothing[14]
Support material pairingNot documentedPolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker Fiberon)[2]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedConditioned parts grow; Polymaker declines to publish a standard dimensional allowance because it depends on geometry and infill[12]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[24]Formic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[24]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[24]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[24]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[24]None — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[24]

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. FibreX PA12-GF30 Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  3. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PA6-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  4. CarbonX Carbon Fiber Nylon (Gen3) Technical Data Sheet v3.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. IEMAI 3D GF-PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower Glass Fiber product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. YXPOLYER PA6 CF-Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. IEMAI 3D CF-PA6 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  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. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Fiberon PA12-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-02 · tds
  18. Fiberon PA6-GF25 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. FDM Nylon-CF10 — Material Data Sheet (blended nylon, 10 wt% carbon fibre) Stratasys · 2026-08 · tds
  23. 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
  24. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds