3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA12-GF vs PC-ESD

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

Glass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF) guideESD-safe PC guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA12-GF comparisonsMore PC-ESD comparisons
PA12-GF vs PC-ESD — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PAESD-safe PCPC
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings$180.00/kg median; $180.00–$180.00/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[1]Polycarbonate compounded with a conductive filler for static-dissipative parts[2]
Densityg/cm³1.23 (ISO 1183)[1]1.24 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech); Stratasys specific gravity 1.195 (ASTM D792)[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 46–140; the middle of the market is about 88[4][5][6]1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 180[4]
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[4][5][6]180 at 3DXTech's 750 g pricing — the most expensive material in this group[4]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[4][5]Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[4]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[4][6]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools plus Stratasys-compatible cartridges[4]
Typical applicationsStiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[1][7]Electronics fixtures and trays that need PC heat resistance and static dissipation together[2]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[8]Enclosure required (passive)[9][10]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[11][8]PEI with a glue stick or a commercial adhesive[12]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedSevere — heated chamber needed[9][10]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[11]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[12][13]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[8]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem[13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[8]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[9]
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[14]Hardened steel required[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[14]Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[15]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a 120 °C pre-dry[16]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[11]Slightly sensitive[12]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[11]All-metal hot end required (Simplify3D)[12]
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]Low (0.1–0.3 %) — the PC matrix takes up 0.15–0.25 % and 3DXTech specifies a 120 °C, 4 h pre-dry[19][20][16]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[15]
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[7][21]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[13][15]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[15]Airtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[13]
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[14][21]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]68 at break (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech) — above the 58 of 3DXTech's unfilled ezPC; Stratasys prints 47.6-49.4 at yield in XZ (ASTM D638)[2][22][3]
Young's modulusMPa7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2300 (printed XY, ISO 527); Stratasys prints 1960 in XZ and 1810-1910 in ZX (ASTM D638)[2][3]
Elongation at break%4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[1][18]6 at break (printed XY, ISO 527), against 14 for the unfilled grade[2][22]
Flexural strengthMPa94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]95 (printed XY, ISO 178); Stratasys prints 82.6-83.2 at break in XZ against 46.3-49.5 in ZX (ASTM D790)[2][3]
Flexural modulusMPa7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2310 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented32.5-37.9 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D638 on the Fortus 450mc and F900)[3]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Moderate[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[23]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 an ESD grade[24]
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[23][8]Excellent — holds load for years. Moulded unfilled PC was still running unbroken under 41 MPa tensile creep at room temperature when the test was stopped, and the conductive filler leaves the glass transition unchanged at 142 °C, so the creep mechanism is polycarbonate's[25][3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[23]Not documented
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented68-77 (Stratasys ZX against XZ tensile yield, ASTM D638)[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented143-146 printed in XY, XZ and ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi); 135 moulded[3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented140-144 printed in XY, XZ and ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi); 124 moulded[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented143 (DSC, 3DXTech) and 142 (Stratasys, ASTM D7426)[2][3]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend[20]
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[23]68.4 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D696; source states 3.8e-5 in/in/°F); no figure is published for a conductive-filled grade[24]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[14]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[8]Not documented
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[8]Withstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[13]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[7]Not documented
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[8]Bisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[13]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[8]Not biodegradable[13]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[8]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[13]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Surface resistance 10⁷–10⁹ ohm/sq, the static-dissipative band (ASTM D257), against above 10¹³ for unfilled ezPC[2][22]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[26]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[26]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[26]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[26]≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[26]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[26]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[26]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[26][9]
Dust & fibre handling hazardGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Conductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[11]Sands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[12]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[11]Cyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[12]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[11]No practical vapour smoothing[12]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[12]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[27]Dichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[28]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[27]Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[28]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[27]Dichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[29]

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. 3DXSTAT ESD-PC Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. PC-ESD — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2024-10 · tds
  4. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. IEMAI 3D GF-PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower Glass Fiber product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  8. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  9. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  10. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  11. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  13. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  15. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. 3DXSTAT ESD-PC — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 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. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  20. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  21. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  22. ezPC Polycarbonate Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  23. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  24. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  25. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  26. 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
  27. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  28. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  29. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds