3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PC-ESD vs PPS-CF

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

ESD-safe PC guideFibre-reinforced PPS guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PC-ESD comparisonsMore PPS-CF comparisons
PC-ESD vs PPS-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe PCPCFibre-reinforced PPSHIGHTEMP
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$180.00/kg median; $180.00–$180.00/kg across 1 dated product listings$139.98/kg median; $119.98–$174.17/kg across 5 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolycarbonate compounded with a conductive filler for static-dissipative parts[1]Carbon-fibre reinforced PPS — Polymaker's Fiberon grade is nominally 10 wt%[2]
Densityg/cm³1.24 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech); Stratasys specific gravity 1.195 (ASTM D792)[1][3]1.29 (Fiberon PPS-CF10) and 1.36 (Fiberon PPS-GF20), ISO 1183[2][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 180[5]1 kg-equivalent spools span 93–174; the middle of the market is about 140[6][7][8][9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg180 at 3DXTech's 750 g pricing — the most expensive material in this group[5]93-174 across brands and formats; Polymaker Fiberon PPS-GF20 93 at 3 kg, IEMAI 3D CF-PPS 131 at 750 g, LEHVOSS Luvocom 3F PPS CF 9938 164 at 2.3 kg, Bambu Lab PPS-CF 174 at 750 g[6][7][8][9]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[5]Available from several mainstream brands[6][7][8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools plus Stratasys-compatible cartridges[5]1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[6]
Typical applicationsElectronics fixtures and trays that need PC heat resistance and static dissipation together[1]Chemical and automotive parts needing PPS chemistry with structural stiffness[2]
Printing Parameters
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[10][11]Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker states its Fiberon PPS-CF10 needs no heated chamber, unlike the unfilled sulfones and PAEKs[2]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI with a glue stick or a commercial adhesive[12]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Severe — heated chamber needed[10][11]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[12][13]Not documented
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem[13]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[10]Expert / industrial hardware only[2]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Hardened steel required[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[1]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a 120 °C pre-dry[14]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; Polymaker specifies hardened steel or ruby nozzles for carbon-filled PPS and Prusa lists composites as a higher clogging risk[15][16]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[12]Not documented
Hotend requirementAll-metal hot end required (Simplify3D)[12]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[17][18][14]Low (0.1–0.3 %) — 0.225 % equilibrium for Fiberon PPS-CF10 and 0.11 % for PPS-GF20[2][4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.225 equilibrium (Fiberon PPS-CF10); 0.11 (PPS-GF20)[2][4]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[19]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[13][19]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; equilibrium uptake is 0.225 % and Polymaker specifies a 100 °C, 10 h dry[2]
Storage requirementAirtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[13]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][20][3]59.4 ± 1.3 (PPS-CF10) and 64.1 ± 2.1 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527[2][4]
Young's modulusMPa2300 (printed XY, ISO 527); Stratasys prints 1960 in XZ and 1810-1910 in ZX (ASTM D638)[1][3]5446.7 ± 149.0 (PPS-CF10) and 4552.0 ± 54.6 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527[2][4]
Elongation at break%6 at break (printed XY, ISO 527), against 14 for the unfilled grade[1][20]1.4 ± 0.1 (PPS-CF10) and 2.0 ± 0.2 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527 — the lowest elongation in the dataset[2][4]
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]Not documented
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented5.3 ± 0.2 printed XY for PPS-CF10 and 7.3 ± 0.2 for PPS-GF20, ISO 179 notched[2][4]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32.5-37.9 at yield printed ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D638 on the Fortus 450mc and F900)[3]32.0 ± 5.1 (PPS-CF10) and 22.9 ± 0.8 (PPS-GF20) printed Z, ISO 527[2][4]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Very brittle — cracks or shatters easily; elongation at break 1.4 %[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[21]Rockwell 105 (and R124) on extruded unfilled PPS stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a fibre-filled PPS filament[22]
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[23][3]Excellent — holds load for years. Ensinger lists high creep resistance for unfilled PPS stock and Spectrum states creep resistance is unchanged under continuous load at high temperature; the fibre raises heat deflection to 252 °C at 0.45 MPa[22][24][2]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%68-77 (Stratasys ZX against XZ tensile yield, ASTM D638)[3]54 (PPS-CF10) and 36 (PPS-GF20), printed[2][4]
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]252.5 (PPS-CF10) and 236.3 (PPS-GF20), printed, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[2][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C140-144 printed in XY, XZ and ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi); 124 moulded[3]133 (PPS-CF10) and 125.8 (PPS-GF20), printed, ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[2][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°C143 (DSC, 3DXTech) and 142 (Stratasys, ASTM D7426)[1][3]97.7 (PPS-CF10) and 95.0 (PPS-GF20), DSC[2][4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented279.7 (PPS-CF10) and 279.6 (PPS-GF20) melting, DSC; Vicat 267.5 and 272.5 (ISO 306)[2][4]
Continuous service temperature°C113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend[18]170 long-term service on extruded PPS stock, converted from 338 °F; no figure published for the carbon-filled grade[22]
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[21]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[13]Outstanding — PPS resists essentially all solvents below 200 °C[15]
Food contactBisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[13]Not documented
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[13]Not documented
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[13]Not documented
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance 10⁷–10⁹ ohm/sq, the static-dissipative band (ASTM D257), against above 10¹³ for unfilled ezPC[1][20]Surface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (ANSI/ESD S11.11)[2][4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[25]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised. None of these polymers was in the chamber study, and all are processed far above the temperatures it covered[25]
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[25]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[25][10]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[25]
Dust & fibre handling hazardConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[2]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[12]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[12]Not documented
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[12]Not documented
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[12]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[26]None — PPS does not dissolve in any known solvent below 200 °C.[27][28]
Softened or crazed byMethanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[26]Nothing at 23 °C; Ensinger rates it only conditionally resistant to benzene, dichloromethane, toluene and pyridine.[28]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[29]None — no solvent welds or smooths PPS.[27]

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. Fiberon PPS-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-07 · tds
  3. PC-ESD — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2024-10 · tds
  4. Fiberon PPS-GF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-07 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Bambu Lab PPS-CF Black, spool (750 g) 3DJAKE · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. 3D4Makers product catalogue 3D4Makers · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. IEMAI 3D CF-PPS 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  12. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  13. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. 3DXSTAT ESD-PC — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  15. PPS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  18. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  19. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. ezPC Polycarbonate Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  21. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  22. TECATRON natural (PPS) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  23. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  24. Spectrum PPS AM230 Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2022-04 · tds
  25. 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
  26. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  27. PPS (Polyphenylene sulfide) — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  28. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  29. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds