3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PC-FR vs PLA Matte

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

Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) guideMatte PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PC-FR comparisonsMore PLA Matte comparisons
PC-FR vs PLA Matte — documented properties and sources
PropertyFlame-retardant PC (PC-FR)PCMatte PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$87.50/kg median; $54.99–$224.00/kg across 4 dated product listings$19.09/kg median; $10.99–$32.16/kg across 10 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryFlame-retardant polycarbonate. Polymaker builds its grade on Covestro's Makrolon family and rates it UL 94 V-0[1][2]PLA compounded with a mineral filler — Fiberlogy names chalk — that scatters light into a diffuse finish[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.18 (Bambu Lab) and 1.2 (Polymaker), ISO 1183[2][1]1.31 (Bambu Lab, ISO 1183) to 1.38 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral, method not stated) — above plain PLA from the filler[4][3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 55–224; the two mainstream 1 kg grades are 55 and the industrial grades 120–224[2][5]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 21[6][7][8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg55–224 across brands; Bambu Lab and Polymaker 55, 3DXTech FR PC/ABS 120, 3DXLABS FR-PC 224[2][5][9]11–32 across brands; budget house brands 11–19, Fiberlogy PLA Mineral 32[10][7][11]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[2][5][9]Stocked by most mainstream brands[10][8][6]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.75 and 1 kg spools[5][9][2]1.75 mm; 1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[6][12]
Typical applicationsElectrical enclosures, transport interiors and battery housings that must meet a flammability rating[1][2]Display models and visible parts where a matte, non-reflective finish matters[4]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.03 (Bambu Lab PC FR)[2]±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[13]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C260–280 (Bambu Lab); 250–270 (Polymaker)[2][1]190–230 (Bambu Lab); 190–210 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral)[4][3]
Bed temperature°C90–110 (Bambu Lab); 90–105 (Polymaker)[2][1]35–45 (Bambu Lab); 60 (Fiberlogy)[4][3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber, Polymaker 70–100 °C[2][1]Open frame is fine[4][3]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab); 70–100 (Polymaker)[2][1]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–60 % (Bambu Lab)[2]Fan on; Fiberlogy specifies 75–100 %[4][3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidSmooth or textured PEI plate (Bambu Lab)[2]Cool plate, high-temperature plate or textured PEI with glue (Bambu Lab); smooth PEI, textured PEI or glass (Fiberlogy)[4][3]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s24 at Bambu Lab's 300 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[2][14]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Severe — heated chamber needed[1][15]None[4]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs a specific surface plus adhesive[16][17]Sticks to anything[18]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem[17]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[2][15]Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[4][3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[15]Brass fine indefinitely[19][4][3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[1]Slightly abrasive — mineral filler pushes density from 1.24 to 1.31–1.38[3][4][20]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a 6 h pre-dry at 80 °C[21]Very low[19]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[16]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[22]
Hotend requirementAll-metal hot end required (Simplify3D)[16]No special hot-end required[18]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Low (0.1–0.3 %) — 0.12 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab), half that of unfilled Bambu Lab PC[2][23]Moderate — 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.12 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[2]0.40 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[4]
Drying temperature & time75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)[1]50 °C for 8 h in a forced-air dryer, or 60–70 °C for 12 h on an X1 heatbed; Fiberlogy specifies 50 °C for 6 h[4][3][24]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[25]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[25]
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[17][25]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[25]
Storage requirementAirtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption[17]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[20][18]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa60 ± 4 (Bambu Lab) and 67 ± 4.5 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527[2][1]30 (printed XY, ISO 527, Bambu Lab); 35.1 on My Tech Fun bars for PolyTerra PLA[4][26]
Young's modulusMPa1670 ± 40 (Bambu Lab) and 2634 ± 182 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527[2][1]1960 (Bambu Lab, printed XY, ISO 527); Fiberlogy PLA Mineral quotes 3500 (ISO 527, specimen type not stated)[4][3]
Elongation at break%2.4 ± 0.3 (Bambu Lab) and 3.49 ± 0.7 (Polymaker) at break, printed XY, ISO 527 — the retardant roughly halves unfilled PC's elongation[2][1][27]14.8 (printed XY, ISO 527)[4]
Flexural strengthMPa96.6 ± 1.3 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker)[1]53 (printed XY, ISO 178) — 30 % below PLA Basic at 76[4][20]
Flexural modulusMPa2518 ± 53 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker)[1]2360 (printed XY, ISO 178)[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²11.7 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Polymaker)[1]6.3 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched); unnotched 19.2[4]
Other impact dataNotched Charpy 7.5 ± 1.6 kJ/m² at −30 °C printed XY (Polymaker, ISO 179-1/1eA)[1]Izod 6.1 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars for PolyTerra PLA[26]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa21 ± 3 (Bambu Lab) and 46 ± 4.8 (Polymaker) printed Z, ISO 527[2][1]22 (printed Z, ISO 527); flexural Z falls to 29 against 53 in XY; 12.9 on My Tech Fun layer-adhesion bars[4][26]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[2][1]Brittle — snaps with little warning[4]
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 a flame-retardant filament[28]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good. Moulded unfilled PC sustained 41 MPa tensile creep at room temperature without breaking, but the retardant package drops the glass transition to 115 °C in Polymaker's grade, so the unfilled rating is not carried over in full[29][1]Poor — 12 mm bar sagged to 18.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[26]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedPoor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[30][22]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%35 (Bambu Lab) to 69 (Polymaker), printed[2][1]73 by tensile, 55 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C110 (Polymaker) and 113 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[1][2]58 (Bambu Lab) and 48 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[4][3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C107 (Polymaker) and 108 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[1][2]52 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[4]
Glass transition (Tg)°C115 (Polymaker) and 145 (Bambu Lab), DSC[1][2]61 (DSC)[4]
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 114 (Bambu Lab, ISO 306)[2]163 peak melt (DSC); Vicat 63 °C[4]
Continuous service temperature°C113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend[31]54 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[26]
Annealing responseNot documented50–60 °C for 6–12 h; some prints deform or warp, and a forced-air oven is required[4]
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 flame-retardant grade[28]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 (Polymaker PolyMax PC-FR); 3DXTech rates its FR PC/ABS V-0 at 1.5 mm on the base resin[1][32]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[20][33]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Degrades within weeks outdoors unless stabilised[17]Degrades within weeks outdoors[22][34]
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids[17]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[33][22]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — insoluble in water[20]
Food contactBisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament[17]Base resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[22]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[17]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[35][22]
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection[17]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[35]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[36]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[36]
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[36]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[36][15]None needed in a normal room[36]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips[16]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[34][22]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent[16]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[22][37]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[16]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[22]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support[16]Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[4]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedMatte surface hides layer lines; 55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges as for plain PLA[4]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.[38]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[39]
Softened or crazed byMethanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.[38]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[39][40]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.[41]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[42][40]

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. PolyMax PC-FR Technical Data Sheet V5.5 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  2. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V1.0 — PC FR Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  3. PLA Mineral — product and technical data Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Matte Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Polymaker Panchroma Matte PLA — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Overture Matte PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Matte PLA filament collection Anycubic Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Matte PLA filament collection Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Fiberlogy PLA Mineral — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Extrudr PLA NX2 Matt — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  15. ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Polycarbonate — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  17. PC — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  18. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  21. 3DXTech Firewire FR-PC/ABS product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  22. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V2.0 — PC Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  24. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  26. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  27. PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  28. TECANAT natural (PC) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  29. Experimental data for creep and dynamic mechanical properties of polycarbonate and polycarbonate/ABS Data in Brief 42:108264 · 2022-06 · paper
  30. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  31. Prusament PC Blend Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  32. Firewire Flame Retardant PC/ABS Technical Data Sheet Rev 3.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  33. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  34. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  35. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  36. 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
  37. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  38. Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) Covestro · 2016-12 · tds
  39. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  40. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  41. Weld-On 3 Acrylic Plastic Cement — technical data sheet (shipped as dichloromethane) IPS Corporation · 2002-07 · tds
  42. 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