3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PC-CF vs PET-CF

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

Carbon-fibre PC (PC-CF) guideCarbon-fibre PET (PET-CF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PC-CF comparisonsMore PET-CF comparisons
PC-CF vs PET-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre PC (PC-CF)PCCarbon-fibre PET (PET-CF)PETG
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$62.58/kg median; $34.99–$117.33/kg across 6 dated product listings$39.99/kg median; $26.00–$49.98/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolycarbonate reinforced with chopped carbon fibre[1][2]Semi-crystalline PET reinforced with carbon fibre — a different polymer from PETG-CF, with the glycol modifier removed so the matrix can crystallise[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.22 (Prusament) and 1.36 (3DXTech), ISO 1183[1][2]1.29 (Bambu Lab) and 1.34 (Fiberon PET-CF17), ISO 1183[3][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 35–117; the middle of the market is about 63[5][6][7][8][9]1 kg spools cluster near 45[3][10]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg35–117 across brands; Ambrosia 35, IEMAI 39, YXPOLYER 55, Spectrum PC CF 70, Prusament 94, 3DXTech 117[5][6][7][8][9]26–50 across brands; ELEGOO 26 in a 5 kg pack, Bambu Lab 45, Fiberon 50[11][3][10]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[5][7][12]Available from several mainstream brands[3][10][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75, 0.8 and 1 kg spools[5][7]1.75 mm; 0.5 and 1 kg spools[10][3]
Typical applicationsStiff high-temperature structural parts — jigs, drone frames and under-bonnet brackets[1][2]Load-bearing parts that must survive above PETG's 70 °C ceiling without moving to PA or PC[3][4]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.04 (Prusament PC Blend Carbon Fiber)[1]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C285 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]260–290 (Bambu Lab)[3]
Bed temperature°C110 ± 10 (Prusament)[1]80–100 (Bambu Lab)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[1][13]Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[3]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented45–60 (Bambu Lab)[3]
Part cooling fanOff — Prusa allows 0–20 % and warns cooling significantly reduces interlayer adhesion[1]0–60 % (Bambu Lab)[3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI with a glue stick or a commercial adhesive[14]Textured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[15][16]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented8 at Bambu Lab's 100 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer — half the speed it allows for PETG-CF[3][17]
Warping tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts; the fibre reduces warping against unfilled PC[1][13]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[14][18]Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[15][16]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem[18]Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[16]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; hardened nozzle mandatory[13][1]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[13]Hardened steel required[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[13]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; PC already absorbs water from the air and 3DXTech adds a hardened 0.4 mm minimum nozzle, 0.25 mm layers and a 120 °C pre-dry[19][14][20]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Prusa lists higher risk of nozzle clogging for carbon-filled composites[20]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[14]Slightly sensitive[21]
Hotend requirementAll-metal hot end required (Simplify3D)[14]No special hot-end required[21]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Low (0.1–0.3 %) — the PC matrix takes up 0.15–0.25 % and 3DXTech specifies a 120 °C, 4 h pre-dry[22][23][19]Moderate — 0.37 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.53 % equilibrium (Fiberon)[3][4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.11 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers)[1]0.37 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.53 equilibrium (Fiberon PET-CF17)[3][4]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented80 °C for 8–12 h (Bambu Lab) — the longest and hottest dry in the polyester family; Fiberon specifies 100 °C for 10 h[3][4]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[24]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[24]
Effect of moisture on strengthNo 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[18][24]Bambu Lab publishes its whole mechanical table under the heading "Mechanical Properties (Dry state)" — the quoted figures apply only to dried filament[3]
Storage requirementAirtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[18]Sealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[24][16]
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureNot documentedThe 80–100 °C dry both suppliers mandate is far above the 55–65 °C used for PETG, consistent with a melt-hydrolysis risk in the semi-crystalline PET matrix; neither publishes a molecular-weight loss figure[3][4]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa64 ± 3 printed horizontal and 70 ± 3 printed vertical at yield, ISO 527-1 (Prusament); 3DXTech quotes 73 at break[1][2]65.9 (Fiberon) to 74 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 527[3][4]
Young's modulusMPa2600 printed horizontal and 3200 printed vertical, ISO 527-1 (Prusament); 3DXTech quotes 6980[1][2]4730 ± 260 (Bambu Lab) and 5481 ± 224 (Fiberon) printed XY, ISO 527[3][4]
Elongation at break%4.6 at yield printed horizontal (Prusament); 3DXTech quotes 2.1 at break[1][2]2.4 ± 0.5 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon PET-CF17)[4]
Flexural strengthMPa94 ± 3 printed horizontal and 130 ± 2 printed vertical, ISO 178 (Prusament); 3DXTech quotes 85[1][2]109.3 ± 2.0 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon PET-CF17)[4]
Flexural modulusMPa3500 printed horizontal and 4200 printed vertical, ISO 178 (Prusament); 3DXTech quotes 6540[1][2]4744 ± 136 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon PET-CF17)[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 17 ± 2 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[1]5.1 ± 0.2 printed XY, ISO 179 notched (Fiberon PET-CF17); unnotched 25.1 ± 2.8[4]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 32 ± 5 printed horizontal and 35 ± 4 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[1]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa23 ± 2 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test) — above the 21 ± 2 of unfilled Prusament PC Blend[1][23]27.9 (Fiberon) and 35 ± 5 (Bambu Lab) printed Z, ISO 527[3][4]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1][2]Very brittle — elongation at break 2.4 % in XY and 0.8 % in Z[4]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell83 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method), against 79 for unfilled Prusament PC Blend[1][23]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Excellent — holds load for years. Room-temperature tensile creep of moulded unfilled PC ran unbroken at 41 MPa until the test was stopped; short carbon fibre raises the flexural modulus from about 2.1 to 3.5-6.5 GPa, which reduces creep strain further[25][1]Good — no creep test found; annealed PET-CF holds a 105 °C HDT at 1.8 MPa and a 4730–5481 MPa modulus against 1500–2311 for PETG[4][3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Good. No fatigue test data was found for a carbon-fibre PC filament; the unfilled polymer is rated Good on the same scale[25]Below average — no S-N curve; elongation at break is 2.4 % in XY and 0.8 % in Z, against 5.2–9.3 % for unfilled PETG[4]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented42 (Fiberon) to 47 (Bambu Lab), printed[3][4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C114 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Prusament)[1]147.5 (Fiberon) and 205 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[3][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C106 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Prusament), against 93 for unfilled Prusament PC Blend[1][23]105 (Fiberon) and 182 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[3][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°C127 (3DXTech, DSC)[2]75 (Bambu Lab) and 79.3 (Fiberon), DSC[3][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented241.3 (Fiberon) and 250 (Bambu Lab) melting, DSC; Vicat 226–238[3][4]
Continuous service temperature°C113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend[23]Not documented
Annealing responseNot documentedThe PET matrix crystallises on annealing, which is what separates this grade from PETG-CF[4][3]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[26]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Degrades within weeks outdoors unless stabilised[18]Not documented
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[18]Withstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[16]
Food contactBisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[18]Not certified for food contact as filament[16]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Not biodegradable[16]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[18]Not accepted in household plastic collection[16]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — not static-dissipative (3DXTech, ASTM D257)[2]Surface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (Fiberon PET-CF17, ANSI/ESD S11.11)[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[27]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[27]
Ultrafine-particle emission rateparticles/min≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested[27]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[27][13]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[27][3]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[2]Carbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[4]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[14]Sands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[21]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[14]Cyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[21]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[14]No practical vapour smoothing[21]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[14]Prints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[21]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedBambu Lab markets it on low warping and shrinkage relative to other high-temperature composites[3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDichloromethane and chloroform dissolve the matrix and leave the fibre; DMF and dioxane do the same (Covestro).[28]None common; fluorinated solvents such as hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve linear polyester at 23 °C. Laboratory only.[29][30]
Softened or crazed byMethanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[28]Ensinger rates polyester not resistant to chloroform or dichloromethane and only conditionally resistant to acetone and MEK.[30]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cement welds the resin, but the fibre keeps the joint from flowing closed. Controlled carcinogen.[31]Dichloromethane attacks polyester and can be brushed on, but the carbon fibre blocks any useful surface flow.[30][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. Prusament PC Blend Carbon Fiber Technical Datasheet v2.0 Prusa Polymers · 2023-04 · tds
  2. CarbonX Carbon Fiber ezPC Polycarbonate Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PET-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Fiberon PET-CF17 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Spectrum PC CF Carbon Black, 1.75 mm / 250 g 3DJAKE · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. IEMAI CF-PC 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. YXPOLYER PC CF product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Filastruder product catalogue Filastruder · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  16. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  18. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. CARBONX ezPC+CF — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  21. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  23. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  24. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  26. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  27. 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
  28. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  29. Resistance of Ultramid, Ultraform and Ultradur to chemicals (TI-KTU/AS-28 e) BASF · 2000-10 · tds
  30. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  31. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds
  32. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc