3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA12-GF vs PLA Metal

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

Glass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF) guideMetal-filled PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA12-GF comparisonsMore PLA Metal comparisons
PA12-GF vs PLA Metal — documented properties and sources
PropertyGlass-fibre PA12 (PA12-GF)PAMetal-filled PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$130.67/kg median; $46.00–$140.18/kg across 3 dated product listings$79.69/kg median; $24.99–$94.99/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPA12 reinforced with chopped glass fibre — 3DXTech's grade is nominally 30 wt%[1]PLA loaded with real metal powder — bronze, copper, steel or iron. Bambu Lab's PLA Sparkle TDS states it has "metal particles included in its composition"; its separately sold PLA Metal does not, and the store page says so explicitly[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Densityg/cm³1.23 (ISO 1183)[1]1.26 (Bambu Lab Sparkle, a trace-metal glitter grade) up to 3.9–4.0 for colorFabb bronze and copper and 2.3 for Proto-pasta steel, ISO 1183[5][2][3][8]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 46–140; the middle of the market is about 88[9][10][11]1 kg spools cluster near 78[12][13][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[9][10][11]25–95 across brands; Bambu Lab Sparkle 25, Proto-pasta iron 65, colorFabb bronze and copper 84, Proto-pasta steel 95[12][4][13][8]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[9][10]Available from several mainstream brands[13][4][8][12]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 2 kg spools[9][11]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.1, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.5 kg spools[14][13]
Typical applicationsStiff, humidity-stable structural parts — the glass gives the modulus, the PA12 matrix limits the moisture drift[1][15]Decorative castings and props that are polished or left to patinate; the density gives prints a metallic heft[2][4]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented195–220 (colorFabb bronze and copper); 192 (Proto-pasta iron); 198 (Proto-pasta steel); 190–230 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[2][4][8][5]
Bed temperature°CNot documented50–60 (colorFabb, Proto-pasta); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)[2][4][5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[16]Open frame is fine[2]
Part cooling fanNot documentedOn (colorFabb copper); 0–100 % (colorFabb bronze)[2][3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[17][16]Glass plate with glue stick or tape (colorFabb)[2][3]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented1.6–2.4 at Proto-pasta's 20–30 mm/s for iron and steel, 3.2–8 at colorFabb's 40–100 mm/s, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[4][8][2][18]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[17]Not documented
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[16]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[16]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; brittle in filament form and slow to print[4][8]
Extruder requirementNot documentedProto-pasta advises an extrusion width 0.05 mm larger than the nozzle and warns that feeding is inconsistent below 0.4 mm and on Bowden machines[4][8]
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[19]Brass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[4][8]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard GF composite[19]Moderately abrasive — metal fill[4][8]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[20]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[8]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[17]Not documented
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[17]Proto-pasta recommends a wear-resistant or larger nozzle for longer service intervals[4][8]
Other hardware wearNot documentedProto-pasta warns of more frequent nozzle replacement and first-layer adjustment[4][8]
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]Moderate — the PLA matrix takes up 0.40–0.51 % saturated; the metal powder itself does not absorb water[23][24]
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[15][25]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity and publishes no dry-versus-conditioned figures for this grade; absorbed water flashes to steam and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[20]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant[20]Not documented
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[19][25]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa82 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]25 (colorFabb copper) and 30 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; Bambu Lab Sparkle 39 ± 3 printed XY, ISO 527[2][3][5]
Young's modulusMPa7800 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]1940 ± 230 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Elongation at break%4.5 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) — nearly double the 2.4 % of Polymaker's PA6-GF25[1][22]3–10 (colorFabb copper) and 5–10 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; 11.7 for Bambu Lab Sparkle printed XY[2][3][5]
Flexural strengthMPa94 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]75 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Flexural modulusMPa7550 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2350 ± 140 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented23.2 ± 2.4 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 4.5 kJ/m² for colorFabb bronzeFill and 10 kJ/m² for copperFill (ISO 180); Charpy unnotched 66.5 kJ/m² for Bambu Lab Sparkle[2][3][5]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPaNot documented32 ± 2 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Brittle — Proto-pasta describes both its iron and steel grades as more brittle than standard PLA in filament form[4][8]
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]Not documented
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][16]Poor — no metal-filled creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[27][28][29]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. Ensinger lists high fatigue strength as a headline property of extruded PA66-GF30 stock[26]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength and Proto-pasta describes its iron and steel grades as more brittle than standard PLA[30][4][8]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[5]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented82 by tensile (printed, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented55 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented56 (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented156 peak melt (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
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]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the grades surveyed[19]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows under UV[16]Degrades within weeks outdoors[31]
Outdoor durabilityNot documentedProto-pasta markets its iron grade as rustable — the iron oxidises deliberately when exposed to moisture[4]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis[16]Not documented
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Good — minor absorption relative to PA6-based composites[15]Not documented
Food contactNot food-contact certified as filament[16]Not documented
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[16]Not documented
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[16]Not documented
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (ASTM D257)[1]Proto-pasta magnetic iron PLA is ferromagnetic and responds to magnets[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[32]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[32]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon and the largest single-VOC rate in the study[32]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median for nylon — low for particles despite the highest VOC mass measured[32]Not documented
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament[32]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[32]None needed in a normal room[32]
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[17]Polishing is the intended finish — colorFabb and Proto-pasta both sell these grades to be sanded and buffed to a metallic shine[2][3][8]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[17]Not documented
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[17]Not documented
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedcolorFabb notes the metal fill increases die swell, so flow needs raising above plain PLA[3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inFormic acid, phenol, m-cresol and hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve the matrix at 23 °C, leaving the fibre; laboratory reagents.[33]Chloroform dissolves the PLA matrix (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C) and leaves the filler as loose sludge; laboratory reagent.[34]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack the nylon matrix, alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it, mineral acids attack it.[33]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts.[34][35]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents (formic acid, phenol, HFIP) degrade the part, and the fibre blocks surface flow anyway.[33]Chloroform vapour attacks only the resin fraction, so the filler is left standing proud; no workshop-safe agent exists.[36][35]

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. bronzeFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  3. copperFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Magnetic Iron PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PLA Sparkle Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. PLA Metal — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Metal Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  8. Stainless Steel PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  9. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. IEMAI 3D GF-PA12 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. PrimaCreator SELECT NylonPower Glass Fiber product page PrimaCreator · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. PLA Sparkle — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. bronzeFill — product page colorFabb US · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Fiberon PA6-CF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  20. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 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. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  24. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  25. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  26. TECAMID 66 GF30 black (PA66-GF30) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  27. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  28. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  29. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  30. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  31. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  32. 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
  33. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  34. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  35. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  36. Effect of vapour smoothing in trichloromethane on 3D printed PLA — surface, mechanical and chemical structure Pitale, Keche & Chopra, Engineering Research Express 6(4) 045579 · 2024-12 · paper