3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA12-GF vs PA6

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

Glass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF) guidePA6 (Nylon 6) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA12-GF comparisonsMore PA6 comparisons
PA12-GF vs PA6 — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PAPA6 (Nylon 6)PA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings$104.00/kg median; $38.99–$136.00/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[1]Polyamide 6, ring-opened from caprolactam — the most hygroscopic of the common nylons[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.23 (ISO 1183)[1]1.06 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy)[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 39–136; the middle of the market is about 104, though budget unfilled PA6 has now arrived at 39[5][8]
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]39–136 across brands; YXPOLYER 39, 3DXTech iOn Nylon 6 Alloy 104, WearX Nylon 6 136. Unfilled PA6 filament stays rare — most PA6 reaches the market glass- or carbon-filled[5][8]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[5][6]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[5]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[5][7]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 500 g and 750 g spools[5]
Typical applicationsStiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[1][9]Wear parts, bushings and gears where PA6's toughness and abrasion resistance matter more than dimensional stability[2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented220–260 (Polymaker); 225–265 (Simplify3D)[2][10]
Bed temperature°CNot documented70–100 (Polymaker); 70–90 (Simplify3D)[2][10]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[2]Enclosure required (passive)[11][2]
Part cooling fanNot documentedPart cooling fan not required (Simplify3D)[10]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[10][2]PEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[10][2]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[10]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[10][2]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[2]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[2]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[2]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; the filament must be kept dry throughout the print[2][12]
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[13]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[13]Non-abrasive when unfilled[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[12]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet nylon pops and cracks in the melt[9][12]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[10]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[10]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[10]May require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[10]
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[14][15]Very high (>2 %) — Polymaker groups nylon with PVA as the most moisture-prone class, and its own PA6-based composites reach 2.35–3.33 % equilibrium[12][16]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented100 °C for 8 h (Polymaker CoPA); storage below 20 % RH[11][17]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedPopping and cracking during extrusion, then defects that Polymaker describes as very hard to diagnose[9]
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[9][11]Measured dry against wet on printed specimens at 6.16 % moisture (Polymaker CoPA): tensile 78.0 → 34.3 MPa, Young's modulus 2703 → 724 MPa, flexural strength 109.8 → 22.6 MPa, while notched Charpy rises 6.9 → 27.7 kJ/m² and elongation 12.7 → 13.2 %[11][9]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[12]Sealed below 20 % RH with desiccant; Polymaker says nylon often needs to stay in a dryer while printing[17][12]
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][11]Polymaker requires a 100 °C dry for 8 h and storage below 20 % RH; no molecular-weight loss figure is published, and the published wet data is conditioning rather than melt hydrolysis[11][17]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]62 at break (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned to 20 °C / 50 % RH gives 67.6 ultimate and 49.3 at yield printed XZ (ASTM D638)[4][18]
Young's modulusMPa7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2110 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 2232 printed XZ and 1817 ZX (ASTM D638)[4][18]
Elongation at break%4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[1][15]9 at break (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 38 printed XZ against 3.2 in ZX (ASTM D638)[4][18]
Flexural strengthMPa94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]78 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 97.2 printed XZ and 82 ZX (ASTM D790)[4][18]
Flexural modulusMPa7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2200 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 2196 printed XZ and 1879 ZX (ASTM D790)[4][18]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 106 J/m printed XZ against 43 J/m in ZX; unnotched 2873 against 192 J/m (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH, ASTM D256 Method A) — a 15x anisotropy unnotched[18]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented36.5 ultimate and 28.9 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH, ASTM D638)[18]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[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[19]Shore D 86 and Rockwell 85 (108) — the source does not name the scales on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D2240, D785); no figure is published for a PA6 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[19][2]Moderate[2]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[19]Excellent — living hinges viable[2]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Semi-flexible[9]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented54 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned, ZX against XZ ultimate tensile, ASTM D638); 59 on the yield figures[18]
Wear resistance & frictionNot documented3DXTech sells a dedicated wear-resistant PA6 grade; abrasion resistance is the usual reason to choose PA6 over PA12[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented93 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned, ASTM D648 at 264 psi)[18]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented105 (DSC, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy)[4]
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[19]81.0 on extruded unfilled PA66 stock (ASTM D696; source states 4.5e-5 in/in/°F); no figure is published for a PA6 filament, and PA6 and PA66 expand almost identically[20]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[13]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the unfilled filament grades surveyed[4]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[2]Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows and chalks under UV[2]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[2]Withstands oils, fuels and alkalis — the usual reason to choose a polyamide[2]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[9]Absorbs water, properties shift — a conditioned part is measurably softer and larger than the same part dry[9][11]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[2]Polymaker notes medical-grade variants exist, but standard filament is not food-contact certified[2]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[2]Not biodegradable[2]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[2]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[2]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[3]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[3]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[3]Up to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[3]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[3]≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[3]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[3]Caprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[3]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[3]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[3]
Dust & fibre handling hazardGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[10]Sands poorly — the toughness makes it gum rather than powder[10]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[10]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[10]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[10]No practical vapour smoothing[10]
Support material pairingNot documentedPVA dissolves cleanly against nylon; Polymaker sells a break-away PolySupport for PA12[10]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedParts grow as they absorb moisture after printing; Polymaker declines to publish a standard dimensional allowance because it depends on geometry and infill[9]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[21]Dissolved at 23 °C by formic acid above ~50 %, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — laboratory reagents.[21]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[21]Zinc chloride solutions stress-crack it — 10 % marginal, 37 % not resistant; alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it.[21]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[21]None — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[21]

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. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  3. 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
  4. iOn PA6-based Nylon Alloy Technical Data Sheet v2.0 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. YXPOLYER PA6 Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  11. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  12. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  14. Fiberon PA12-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-02 · tds
  15. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  16. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  17. PolyMide CoPA — Technical Data Sheet page Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  18. FDM Nylon 6 — data sheet (conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH) Stratasys · 2017-11 · tds
  19. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  20. TECAMID 66 natural (PA66) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  21. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds