3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA12-GF vs PETG-CF

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

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

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA12-GF comparisonsMore PETG-CF comparisons
PA12-GF vs PETG-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PACarbon-fibre PETG (PETG-CF)PETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings$29.99/kg median; $16.00–$74.22/kg across 11 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[1]PETG reinforced with chopped carbon fibre[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.23 (ISO 1183)[1]1.25 (Bambu Lab) to 1.34 (3DXTech), ISO 1183; Prusament 1.27[2][4][3]
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 16–74; the middle of the market is about 29[2][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
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]16–74 across brands; ELEGOO 16 in a 5 kg pack, Reli3D 17, SUNLU 20, IEMAI 22, Siraya Tech 25, Bambu Lab 32, Sakata 3D 53, 3DXTech 67, Prusament 70, Filament PM 74 on 0.5 kg spools[15][2][5][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[5][6]Stocked by most mainstream brands[2][5][8][15]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[5][7]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75 and 1 kg spools[5][2]
Typical applicationsStiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[1][16]Stiff functional parts and fixtures where PETG's toughness is traded for rigidity and a matte finish[2][3]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.02 (Prusament)[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented240–270 (Bambu Lab); 265 ± 10 (Prusament)[2][3]
Bed temperature°CNot documented65–75 (Bambu Lab); 90 ± 10 (Prusament)[2][3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[17]Open frame fine; draught shield helps — Bambu Lab specifies a 35–50 °C chamber[2]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented35–50 (Bambu Lab)[2]
Part cooling fanNot documented0–60 % (Bambu Lab); 50 % (Prusament)[2][3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[18][17]Textured PEI or engineering plate with glue (Bambu Lab)[2]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented11.5 on My Tech Fun's Bambu Lab PETG-CF profile[19]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[18]Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive[2]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[17]Slight — the fibre reduces stringing against unfilled PETG[2][20]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[17]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[2]
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[21]Hardened steel required[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[21]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[22]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech specifies a hardened 0.4 mm minimum nozzle and 0.25 mm layers or higher, and Prusa lists composites as a higher clogging risk[23][24]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[18]Slightly sensitive[20]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[18]Hardened steel nozzle; no high-temperature hot-end needed[2][20]
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[25][26]Low — 0.30 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[2]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.30 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); Prusa measures 0.10 after 7 days at 22 % RH[2][3]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented65 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[2]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[22]
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[16][27]No dry-versus-conditioned figures published; Bambu Lab states PETG-CF must be properly dried before printing and stored dry after use[2][22]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[22]Sealed with desiccant; Bambu Lab says store dry after use[2][22]
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[21][27]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]35 ± 5 (Bambu Lab) and 47 ± 2 at yield (Prusament) printed XY, ISO 527; 56 at break for 3DXTech[2][3][4]
Young's modulusMPa7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]2460 ± 230 (Bambu Lab) and 1700 (Prusament) printed XY, ISO 527[2][3]
Elongation at break%4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[1][26]4.3 at yield (Prusament, printed XY, ISO 527); 3 at break for 3DXTech[3][4]
Flexural strengthMPa94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]68 ± 3 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[3]
Flexural modulusMPa7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2300 printed horizontal, 3100 printed vertical, ISO 178 (Prusament)[3]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 29 ± 6 printed horizontal and 43 ± 8 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1); Izod 4.91 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun bars[3][19]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented29 ± 4 printed Z (Bambu Lab, ISO 527); 18 ± 3 by Prusa's interlayer adhesion test; 10.7 on My Tech Fun bars[2][3][19]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning[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[28]77 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method)[3]
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[28][17]Below average — a 12 mm bar sagged to 16.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, less than plain PETG's 19.4[19]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[28]Moderate — no CF-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[29]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented83 (Bambu Lab, printed Z against XY tensile)[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented74 (Bambu Lab) and 96 (Prusament), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[2][3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented68 (Bambu Lab) and 80 (Prusament), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[2][3]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented68 (Bambu Lab) and 80 (3DXTech), DSC[2][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented225 melting (Bambu Lab, DSC) — the carbon fibre lets the PET fraction crystallise[2]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented77 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature, against 61 for Bambu Lab PETG Basic[19]
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[28]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[21]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[2]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[17]Moderate — a season or two; the carbon fibre does not add UV stabilisation[30]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[17]Withstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure, as for unfilled PETG[30]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[16]Not documented
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[17]Not certified for food contact[30]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[17]Not biodegradable[30]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[17]Fibre-filled PETG is not accepted in household plastic collection[30]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Surface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — carbon fibre at this loading is not static-dissipative (3DXTech)[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[31]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[31]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[31]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[31]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[31]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[31]Open a window / occasional ventilation[31]
Dust & fibre handling hazardGlass fibre is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Carbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[4]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — gums rather than powders[18]Sands to a matte finish more readily than unfilled PETG[20]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[18]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds it[20]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[18]No practical vapour smoothing[20]
Support material pairingNot documentedSupport for PLA or its own material (Bambu Lab)[2]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedMatte finish hides layer lines; stringing is reduced against unfilled PETG[2]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[32]No common workshop solvent; dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the matrix surface, 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it in a week.[33][34]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[32]Acetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[33]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[32]Dichloromethane reaches only the resin, so the fibre is left standing proud of the surface. Controlled carcinogen.[34]

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. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PETG-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Prusament PETG Carbon Fiber Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  4. CarbonX Carbon Fiber PETG Technical Data Sheet 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. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. SUNLU PETG-CF (PETG Carbon Fiber) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Fibreheart PETG-CF Pro Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. IEMAI CF-PETG 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Reli3D Carbon Fiber PETG Filament 1.75 mm, 1 kg Reli3D (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. PET-G CF15 Sakata 3D Filaments · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Filament PM CFJet technical data sheet (TDS CFJet ENG.pdf) Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  15. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  19. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  20. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  22. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. CARBONX PETG+CF — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Fiberon PA12-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-02 · tds
  26. Fiberon PA6-GF25 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  27. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  28. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  29. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  30. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  31. 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
  32. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  33. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  34. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc