3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA12-GF vs PC

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

Glass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF) guidePolycarbonate (PC) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA12-GF comparisonsMore PC comparisons
PA12-GF vs PC — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PAPolycarbonate (PC)PC
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings$39.99/kg median; $29.99–$92.00/kg across 9 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[1]Bisphenol-A polycarbonate — an amorphous engineering thermoplastic[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.23 (ISO 1183)[1]1.19 (Polymaker) to 1.22 (Prusament), ISO 1183; Bambu Lab 1.20; Stratasys specific gravity 1.20 (ASTM D792)[2][4][5][6]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 46–140; the middle of the market is about 88[7][8][9]1 kg spools cluster near 40[5][10][11]
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[7][8][9]30–92 across brands; Polymaker PolyLite 30, Bambu Lab 40, Polymaker PolyMax 52, Prusament 59, 3DXTech ezPC 64 and 3DXMAX PC 92[10][5][11][7]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[7][8]Available from several mainstream brands[5][10][7][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[7][9]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 0.9, 1 and 3 kg spools[10][7][11]
Typical applicationsStiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[1][12]Light guides, lenses, under-bonnet automotive parts and impact-loaded housings that must hold shape above 110 °C[3][2]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.03 (Prusament PC Blend)[4]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented250–280 across brands; Prusament 275 ± 10, Bambu Lab 260–280, Polymaker 250–270. Polymaker's material guide gives a wider 260–310 for PC and its composites[4][5][2][3]
Bed temperature°CNot documented90–115; Prusament 110 ± 10, Bambu Lab 90–110, Polymaker 90–105[4][5][2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[13]Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker specifies a 70–100 °C chamber, Bambu Lab 45–60 °C and rules out its P1P and A-series machines[2][5][14]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented70–100 (Polymaker); 45–60 (Bambu Lab)[2][5]
Part cooling fanNot documentedOff or very low — Polymaker specifies off, Prusament 20 % within a 0–30 % range, Bambu Lab 0–60 %[2][4][5]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[15][13]Textured PEI with glue when needed (Polymaker); smooth or textured PEI (Bambu Lab)[2][16]
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; Polymaker allows 50–200 mm/s and its material guide advises 30–60 for layer adhesion[5][2][3][17]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedSevere — heated chamber needed[2][3][14]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[15]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[2][14]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[13]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[3]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[13]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[3][14]
Extruder requirementNot documentedAll-metal hotend rated to 300 °C; Polymaker advises larger nozzles and high chamber temperatures to improve bonding[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[18]Brass fine indefinitely[14]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[18]Non-abrasive[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[19]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[3]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[15]Slightly sensitive[20]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[15]All-metal hot end required (Simplify3D); Polymaker advises a hot end rated above 300 °C[20][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[21][22]Low — 0.25 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); Prusa measures 0.15 % after 7 days at 22 % RH. Polymaker nonetheless calls PC highly hygroscopic in service[5][4][3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.25 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.15 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa)[5][4]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab); 75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker); 70–80 °C for 6–8 h (Polymaker material guide)[5][2][3]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[19]
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][23]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[3][19]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[19]Airtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[3]
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[18][23]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]53.4 (PolyMax) to 69.1 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 527; Bambu Lab 62 +/- 2 and Prusament 63 +/- 1 at yield; Stratasys 62.3-64.6 at yield printed XZ, ASTM D638 (its PC White table duplicates the Antero 840CN03 figures and was not used)[2][24][5][4][25][6]
Young's modulusMPa7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2110 (Bambu Lab) to 2497 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 527; Prusament 1900, 3DXTech 2180[5][2][4][25]
Elongation at break%4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[1][22]3.8 (Bambu Lab) to 4.8 (PolyLite) at break, printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 14 at break, Prusament 5.8 at yield[5][2][25][4]
Flexural strengthMPa94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]81.3 (PolyMax) to 108 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 178; Prusament 88 ± 1, PolyLite 106.1[24][5][4][2]
Flexural modulusMPa7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2050 (PolyMax) to 2640 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 178; Prusament 2100[24][2][4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented4.1 (PolyLite) to 21.3 (PolyMax) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; Prusament 12 ± 1[2][24][4]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched does not break on Prusa's pendulum in either orientation (ISO 179-1); PolyMax PC retains 9.2 kJ/m2 notched at -30 °C. Stratasys PC Black gives 85.3 MPa flexural strength at break in ZX against no break in XZ (ASTM D790, printed)[4][24][6]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented37.1-45.3 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys PC Black and Red, ASTM D638); 41.4 (PolyMax) to 56 (Bambu Lab) printed Z; Prusa's interlayer adhesion test gives 21 +/- 2[4][24][5][6]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[3][4]
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[26]Shore D 79 (Prusa Polymers method) and Shore D 79 on extruded PC stock (ASTM D2240); Rockwell 70 (118) — the source does not name the scales[4][27]
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[26][13]Excellent — holds load for years. Room-temperature tensile creep of moulded PC was still running unbroken at 41 MPa when the experiment was stopped for time; specimens failed within the test window only at 47-52 MPa (ASTM D638)[28]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[26]Good[4][3]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented59-73 (Stratasys PC Black and Red, ZX against XZ tensile yield, ASTM D638); 76 for PolyLite PC and 90 for Bambu Lab (printed Z against XY tensile)[5][2][6]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented110 (PolyMax PC-FR) to 114 (PolyMax PC), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa; Bambu Lab 112, PolyLite 111, Prusament 113. Stratasys FDM PC reaches 144 printed (ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi)[24][2][5][4][6]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented93 (Prusament) to 117 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa; PolyLite 107, PolyMax 99. Stratasys FDM PC reaches 141 printed (ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi)[4][5][2][24][6]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented113 (Polymaker, DSC), 142.5 (Stratasys, ASTM D7426 inflection point) and 145 (Bambu Lab, DSC); Polymaker's material guide quotes 150[2][5][3][6]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 117–120 (Polymaker, ISO 306); decomposition above 360 °C[2][24]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend; extruded PC stock is rated 121 long term (converted from 250 °F)[4][27]
Annealing responseNot documented90 °C for 2 h (Polymaker)[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[26]51.6 in XY over -50 to 30 °C, falling to 35.8 over 30-75 °C and 11.5 over 75-130 °C; 49.2 in XZ over -50 to 120 °C (printed, ASTM E831). Extruded PC stock gives 68.4 (ASTM D696)[6][27]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[18]Flammable; no UL 94 rating on standard PC, though V-0 grades exist[29][2]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[13]Degrades within weeks outdoors — unstabilised PC yellows and embrittles under UV[3]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[13]Withstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[3]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[12]Good — minor absorption[5]
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[13]Bisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[3]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[13]Not biodegradable[3]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[13]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[3]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Surface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — an electrical insulator, which Polymaker lists as a headline advantage[25][3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[30]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[30]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[30]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[30]≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[30]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[30]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[30]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[30][14]
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[15]Sands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[20]
Painting & finishingNot documentedOptical clarity survives printing, so transparent parts are usually left unpainted[3]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[15]Cyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[20]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[15]No practical vapour smoothing[20]
Support material pairingNot documentedPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[20]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedWarping is the dominant accuracy limit; light transmission 89 % on PolyLite PC (GB/T 2410)[2][3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[31]Dichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[32]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[31]Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[32]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[31]Dichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[33]

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. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  3. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  4. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. PC (Polycarbonate) — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2026-04 · tds
  7. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. IEMAI 3D GF-PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower Glass Fiber product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 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. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — PC FR Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  17. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  19. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Fiberon PA12-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-02 · tds
  22. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  23. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  24. PolyMax PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  25. ezPC Polycarbonate Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  26. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  27. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  28. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  29. PolyMax PC-FR Technical Data Sheet V5.5 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  30. 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
  31. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  32. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  33. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds