3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PC-ESD vs PLA-PHA

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

ESD-safe PC guidePLA/PHA blend guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PC-ESD comparisonsMore PLA-PHA comparisons
PC-ESD vs PLA-PHA — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe PCPCPLA/PHA blendPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$180.00/kg median; $180.00–$180.00/kg across 1 dated product listings$76.40/kg median; $76.40–$76.40/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolycarbonate compounded with a conductive filler for static-dissipative parts[1]PLA blended with polyhydroxyalkanoate, a bacterially fermented bio-polyester[2]
Densityg/cm³1.24 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech); Stratasys specific gravity 1.195 (ASTM D792)[1][3]1.2 (ISO 1183)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 180[4]Not documented
Price range across brandsUSD/kg180 at 3DXTech's 750 g pricing — the most expensive material in this group[4]Not documented
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[4]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[2][5]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools plus Stratasys-compatible cartridges[4]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g and 2200 g spools[2]
Typical applicationsElectronics fixtures and trays that need PC heat resistance and static dissipation together[1]General-purpose printing where PLA's brittleness is the limiting factor[2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented195–220 (colorFabb)[2]
Bed temperature°CNot documented50–60 (colorFabb)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[6][7]Open frame is fine[2]
Part cooling fanNot documented0–100 %; colorFabb states the blend runs on both heated and unheated beds[2][8]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI with a glue stick or a commercial adhesive[9]Not documented
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented3.2–8 at colorFabb's 40–100 mm/s, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[8][10]
Warping tendency1–5Severe — heated chamber needed[6][7]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[9][11]Not documented
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem[11]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[6]Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[2]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Brass fine indefinitely[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[1]Non-abrasive[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a 120 °C pre-dry[12]Very low — unfilled PLA blend; Prusa lists no drybox and no hardened nozzle for PLA[13]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[9]Not documented
Hotend requirementAll-metal hot end required (Simplify3D)[9]Not documented
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[14][15][12]Moderate — the PLA matrix takes up 0.40–0.51 % saturated; colorFabb publishes no figure for the blend[16][17]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[18]Not documented
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[11][18]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[18]
Storage requirementAirtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[11]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa68 at break (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech) — above the 58 of 3DXTech's unfilled ezPC; Stratasys prints 47.6-49.4 at yield in XZ (ASTM D638)[1][19][3]62–64 (ISO 527-1A, colorFabb; two grades quoted)[2]
Young's modulusMPa2300 (printed XY, ISO 527); Stratasys prints 1960 in XZ and 1810-1910 in ZX (ASTM D638)[1][3]2960–3070 (ISO 527-1A, colorFabb)[2]
Elongation at break%6 at break (printed XY, ISO 527), against 14 for the unfilled grade[1][19]4 and 11 (ISO 527-1A, colorFabb; two grades quoted)[2]
Flexural strengthMPa95 (printed XY, ISO 178); Stratasys prints 82.6-83.2 at break in XZ against 46.3-49.5 in ZX (ASTM D790)[1][3]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa2310 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]2500–3300 flexural modulus (ISO 178, colorFabb)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented2.8–3.7 (ISO 179, notched, colorFabb)[2]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32.5-37.9 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D638 on the Fortus 450mc and F900)[3]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Moderate — colorFabb positions the blend as tougher and less brittle than its generic PLA grades[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell 70 (118) — the source does not name the scales and Shore D 79 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D785, D2240); no figure is published for an ESD grade[20]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Excellent — holds load for years. Moulded unfilled PC was still running unbroken under 41 MPa tensile creep at room temperature when the test was stopped, and the conductive filler leaves the glass transition unchanged at 142 °C, so the creep mechanism is polycarbonate's[21][3]Poor — no PLA/PHA creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[22][23][24]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedBelow average — no S-N curve for the blend; colorFabb positions it as tougher and less brittle than its generic PLA, which ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[25][2]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%68-77 (Stratasys ZX against XZ tensile yield, ASTM D638)[3]Not documented
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C143-146 printed in XY, XZ and ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi); 135 moulded[3]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C140-144 printed in XY, XZ and ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi); 124 moulded[3]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C143 (DSC, 3DXTech) and 142 (Stratasys, ASTM D7426)[1][3]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documentedAbove 155 melting (ISO 3146-C)[2]
Continuous service temperature°C113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend[15]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K68.4 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D696; source states 3.8e-5 in/in/°F); no figure is published for a conductive-filled grade[20]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors[26]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[11]Not documented
Food contactBisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[11]Not documented
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[11]colorFabb states the PHA component is 100 % biodegradable[2]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[11]Not documented
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance 10⁷–10⁹ ohm/sq, the static-dissipative band (ASTM D257), against above 10¹³ for unfilled ezPC[1][19]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[27]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[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][6]None needed in a normal room[27]
Dust & fibre handling hazardConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[9]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[9]Not documented
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[9]Not documented
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[9]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[28]Chloroform dissolves the PLA phase (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C); THF and DMF need 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[29]
Softened or crazed byMethanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[28]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[29][30]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[31]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[32][30]

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. 3DXSTAT ESD-PC Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. PLA/PHA technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  3. PC-ESD — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2024-10 · tds
  4. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. woodFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  6. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  7. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  8. glowFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  9. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  10. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  11. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. 3DXSTAT ESD-PC — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  15. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  16. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  17. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  18. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. ezPC Polycarbonate Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  20. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  21. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  22. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  23. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  24. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  25. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  26. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  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. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  30. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  31. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds
  32. 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