3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PA6 vs PC

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

PA6 (Nylon 6) guidePolycarbonate (PC) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PA6 comparisonsMore PC comparisons
PA6 vs PC — documented properties and sources
PropertyPA6 (Nylon 6)PAPolycarbonate (PC)PC
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$104.00/kg median; $38.99–$136.00/kg across 3 dated product listings$39.99/kg median; $29.99–$92.00/kg across 9 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyamide 6, ring-opened from caprolactam — the most hygroscopic of the common nylons[1][2]Bisphenol-A polycarbonate — an amorphous engineering thermoplastic[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.06 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy)[5]1.19 (Polymaker) to 1.22 (Prusament), ISO 1183; Bambu Lab 1.20; Stratasys specific gravity 1.20 (ASTM D792)[3][6][7][8]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 39–136; the middle of the market is about 104, though budget unfilled PA6 has now arrived at 39[9][10]1 kg spools cluster near 40[7][11][12]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg39–136 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[9][10]30–92 across brands; Polymaker PolyLite 30, Bambu Lab 40, Polymaker PolyMax 52, Prusament 59, 3DXTech ezPC 64 and 3DXMAX PC 92[11][7][12][9]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[9]Available from several mainstream brands[7][11][9][12]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 500 g and 750 g spools[9]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 0.9, 1 and 3 kg spools[11][9][12]
Typical applicationsWear parts, bushings and gears where PA6's toughness and abrasion resistance matter more than dimensional stability[1]Light guides, lenses, under-bonnet automotive parts and impact-loaded housings that must hold shape above 110 °C[4][3]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.03 (Prusament PC Blend)[6]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C220–260 (Polymaker); 225–265 (Simplify3D)[1][13]250–280 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[6][7][3][4]
Bed temperature°C70–100 (Polymaker); 70–90 (Simplify3D)[1][13]90–115; Prusament 110 ± 10, Bambu Lab 90–110, Polymaker 90–105[6][7][3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[14][1]Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker specifies a 70–100 °C chamber, Bambu Lab 45–60 °C and rules out its P1P and A-series machines[3][7][15]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented70–100 (Polymaker); 45–60 (Bambu Lab)[3][7]
Part cooling fanPart cooling fan not required (Simplify3D)[13]Off or very low — Polymaker specifies off, Prusament 20 % within a 0–30 % range, Bambu Lab 0–60 %[3][6][7]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet with a glue stick, or a dedicated adhesive such as Magigoo[13][1]Textured PEI with glue when needed (Polymaker); smooth or textured PEI (Bambu Lab)[3][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[7][3][4][17]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedSevere — heated chamber needed[3][4][15]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[13][1]Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[3][15]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed[1]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[4]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; the filament must be kept dry throughout the print[1][18]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[4][15]
Extruder requirementNot documentedAll-metal hotend rated to 300 °C; Polymaker advises larger nozzles and high chamber temperatures to improve bonding[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[1]Brass fine indefinitely[15]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive when unfilled[1]Non-abrasive[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet nylon pops and cracks in the melt[19][18]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[4]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed[13]Slightly sensitive[20]
Hotend requirementMay require an all-metal hot end (Simplify3D)[13]All-metal hot end required (Simplify3D); Polymaker advises a hot end rated above 300 °C[20][4]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Very 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[18][21]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[7][6][4]
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)[7][6]
Drying temperature & time100 °C for 8 h (Polymaker CoPA); storage below 20 % RH[14][22]80 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab); 75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker); 70–80 °C for 6–8 h (Polymaker material guide)[7][3][4]
Symptoms when wetPopping and cracking during extrusion, then defects that Polymaker describes as very hard to diagnose[19]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[18]
Effect of moisture on strengthMeasured 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 %[14][19]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[4][18]
Storage requirementSealed below 20 % RH with desiccant; Polymaker says nylon often needs to stay in a dryer while printing[22][18]Airtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[4]
Hydrolysis at melt temperaturePolymaker 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[14][22]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa62 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)[5][23]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)[3][24][7][6][25][8]
Young's modulusMPa2110 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 2232 printed XZ and 1817 ZX (ASTM D638)[5][23]2110 (Bambu Lab) to 2497 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 527; Prusament 1900, 3DXTech 2180[7][3][6][25]
Elongation at break%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)[5][23]3.8 (Bambu Lab) to 4.8 (PolyLite) at break, printed XY, ISO 527; 3DXTech quotes 14 at break, Prusament 5.8 at yield[7][3][25][6]
Flexural strengthMPa78 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 97.2 printed XZ and 82 ZX (ASTM D790)[5][23]81.3 (PolyMax) to 108 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 178; Prusament 88 ± 1, PolyLite 106.1[24][7][6][3]
Flexural modulusMPa2200 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy); Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned gives 2196 printed XZ and 1879 ZX (ASTM D790)[5][23]2050 (PolyMax) to 2640 (PolyLite) printed XY, ISO 178; Prusament 2100[24][3][6]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented4.1 (PolyLite) to 21.3 (PolyMax) printed XY, ISO 179, notched; Prusament 12 ± 1[3][24][6]
Other impact dataIzod 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[23]Charpy 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)[6][24][8]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa36.5 ultimate and 28.9 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH, ASTM D638)[23]37.1-45.3 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[6][24][7][8]
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[4][6]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellShore 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[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[6][27]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Moderate[1]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 resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[1]Good[6][4]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Semi-flexible[19]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%54 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6 conditioned, ZX against XZ ultimate tensile, ASTM D638); 59 on the yield figures[23]59-73 (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)[7][3][8]
Wear resistance & friction3DXTech sells a dedicated wear-resistant PA6 grade; abrasion resistance is the usual reason to choose PA6 over PA12[9]Not documented
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][3][7][6][8]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C93 (Stratasys FDM Nylon 6, conditioned, ASTM D648 at 264 psi)[23]93 (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)[6][7][3][24][8]
Glass transition (Tg)°C105 (DSC, 3DXTech iOn PA6 alloy)[5]113 (Polymaker, DSC), 142.5 (Stratasys, ASTM D7426 inflection point) and 145 (Bambu Lab, DSC); Polymaker's material guide quotes 150[3][7][4][8]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 117–120 (Polymaker, ISO 306); decomposition above 360 °C[3][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)[6][27]
Annealing responseNot documented90 °C for 2 h (Polymaker)[3]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K81.0 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[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)[8][27]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for the unfilled filament grades surveyed[5]Flammable; no UL 94 rating on standard PC, though V-0 grades exist[29][3]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Months outdoors before embrittlement — unstabilised polyamide yellows and chalks under UV[1]Degrades within weeks outdoors — unstabilised PC yellows and embrittles under UV[4]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, fuels and alkalis — the usual reason to choose a polyamide[1]Withstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[4]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Absorbs water, properties shift — a conditioned part is measurably softer and larger than the same part dry[19][14]Good — minor absorption[7]
Food contactPolymaker notes medical-grade variants exist, but standard filament is not food-contact certified[1]Bisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[4]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[1]Not biodegradable[4]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[1]Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[4]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — an electrical insulator, which Polymaker lists as a headline advantage[25][4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[2]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[2]
VOC emission rateµg/minUp to 180 caprolactam, the dominant VOC from nylon; total VOC reached nearly 200 µg/min, the highest of the nine filaments tested[2]Not documented
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈2 × 10⁸ median — low for ultrafine particles despite the highest VOC mass of any filament tested[2]≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[2]
Hazardous species emittedCaprolactam, at up to 180 µg/min from nylon filament — the largest single-VOC emission rate measured in the study[2]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[2]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[2][15]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the toughness makes it gum rather than powder[13]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[4]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds polyamide[13]Cyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[20]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[13]No practical vapour smoothing[20]
Support material pairingPVA dissolves cleanly against nylon; Polymaker sells a break-away PolySupport for PA12[13]Prints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[20]
Dimensional accuracy & detailParts grow as they absorb moisture after printing; Polymaker declines to publish a standard dimensional allowance because it depends on geometry and infill[19]Warping is the dominant accuracy limit; light transmission 89 % on PolyLite PC (GB/T 2410)[3][4]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDissolved at 23 °C by formic acid above ~50 %, phenol, m-cresol, 96 % sulphuric acid or hexafluoroisopropanol — laboratory reagents.[30]Dichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[31]
Softened or crazed byZinc chloride solutions stress-crack it — 10 % marginal, 37 % not resistant; alcoholic calcium chloride dissolves it.[30]Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[31]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — nylon's only solvents are formic acid, phenol and HFIP, all of which degrade the part they wet.[30]Dichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[32]

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. PA (Nylon) — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  2. 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
  3. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  4. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  5. iOn PA6-based Nylon Alloy Technical Data Sheet v2.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  7. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  8. PC (Polycarbonate) — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2026-04 · tds
  9. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. YXPOLYER PA6 Black 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Nylon — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  14. PolyMide CoPA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 (dry and wet status blocks) Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  15. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 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. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Moisture Conditioning — effect on printed nylon properties Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Fiberon PA612-CF15 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2024-12 · tds
  22. PolyMide CoPA — Technical Data Sheet page Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · tds
  23. FDM Nylon 6 — data sheet (conditioned 20 °C / 50 % RH) Stratasys · 2017-11 · 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 natural (PA66) — 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. Ultramid Nylon Chemical Resistance guide (unmodified PA6 B27E and PA66 A27E) BASF · 2026-08 · tds
  31. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  32. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds