3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PEBA vs PEI 1010

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

PEBA (polyether block amide) guidePEI (ULTEM 1010) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PEBA comparisonsMore PEI 1010 comparisons
PEBA vs PEI 1010 — documented properties and sources
PropertyPEBA (polyether block amide)FLEXPEI (ULTEM 1010)HIGHTEMP
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$60.99/kg median; $60.99–$60.99/kg across 1 dated product listings$281.22/kg median; $195.00–$698.00/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyether block amide: rigid polyamide and flexible polyether blocks.[1]Polyetherimide, ULTEM 1010 grade — the higher-temperature, food- and medical-contact PEI[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.01 g/cm³ (GB/T 1033; eSUN manufacturer data)[1]1.27 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech and Prusament); 1.29 specific gravity on moulded plaques (ASTM D792, Stratasys)[2][3][4]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools span 195–698; the middle of the market is about 270[5][6][7][8][9]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented195-698 across brands and grades; 3DXTech ThermaX PEI 1010 195 at 2 kg, IEMAI 3D 223 at 1 kg, 3D4Makers 270 at 2 kg, Prusament 292 at 500 g, Kimya 347 at 500 g, 3DXTech ESD-PEI 1010 698 at 500 g[5][6][7][8][9]
Market availability1–5Not documentedNiche, a handful of specialist brands[5][6][7][8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm diameter, 1 kg spool.[10]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 200 g to 2 kg spools, plus Stratasys canisters[5][8][4]
Typical applicationsManufacturer applications include footwear, sports equipment and cushioning.[1]Autoclavable tooling, food-contact fixtures and parts that must hold load near 200 °C[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C230–260 °C; 240 °C recommended.[1]410 ± 10 (Prusament) — the hottest nozzle in the dataset[3]
Bed temperature°C60–90 °C[1]140–160 (Prusament); 130–140 (3DXTech)[3][2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Not documentedActively heated chamber required — Prusa specifies 90 °C[3]
Recommended chamber temperature°CNot documented90 (Prusament)[3]
Part cooling fan10–50% fan recommended; mechanical-test specimens used 50–100%.[1]Not documented
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI build plate[1]PA nylon sheet or powder-coated sheet with high-temperature glue (Prusament)[3]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s9 mm³/s maximum in eSUN spiral-vase test; mechanical specimens used 2 mm³/s. Linear recommendation 25–110 mm/s is a separate quantity.[1]Not documented
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedSevere — heated chamber needed[3]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Not documentedExpert / industrial hardware only[3][11]
Extruder requirementNot documentedA hot end rated to 420 °C, a heated chamber and a high-temperature bed; Prusa dries the filament at 150 °C for 6–8 h before printing[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Not documentedBrass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades, but brass softens near these nozzle temperatures — hardened or plated hot ends are the norm[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Not documentedNon-abrasive when unfilled[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Not documentedModerate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a mandatory 150 °C pre-dry before every print[12]
Moisture Behaviour
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.4 in 24 h and 0.7 in 7 days at 24 °C and 22 % RH (Prusament)[3]
Drying temperature & time70–75 °C for 6–8 h; re-dry after receiving or extended exposure.[1]150 °C for 6–8 h (Prusament) — the hottest drying schedule in the dataset[3]
Effect of moisture on strengthNot documentedNo dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; 3DXTech mandates a 150 °C, 4 h pre-dry before every print because trapped water flashes to steam at these nozzle temperatures[12]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa>16.5 MPa printed XY, GB/T 1040; manufacturer lower bound, not an exact measurement.[1]79-95 printed in plane: Stratasys 79.2 (F900 T14) to 91.6 (F3300 N500) at break in XZ, ASTM D638; Prusament 95 +/- 3.5 at yield printed horizontal, ISO 527-1; 3DXTech quotes 56 (ISO 527)[4][3][2]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented2300-3040 printed in plane: Prusament 2300 +/- 100 horizontal (ISO 527-1), Stratasys 2920-3040 in XZ (ASTM D638); 3DXTech quotes 2500[4][3][2]
Elongation at break%>520% printed XY, GB/T 1040; manufacturer lower bound.[1]4.0-4.1 at break in XZ (ASTM D638, Stratasys); Prusament gives 6.6 +/- 0.7 at yield printed horizontal (ISO 527-1); 3DXTech quotes 3[4][3][2]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented128 at 5 % strain (F900 T14) and 144 at break (F3300) printed XZ, ASTM D790; Prusament 98 +/- 6.5 horizontal and 138 +/- 5.3 vertical (ISO 178); 3DXTech quotes 110[4][3][2]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2910-3260 printed XZ (ASTM D790, Stratasys); Prusament 2300 horizontal and 2700 vertical (ISO 178); 3DXTech quotes 2510[4][3][2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented3.4 ± 0.9 printed horizontal and 3.6 ± 0.4 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[3]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 26.6-36.3 J/m XZ against 21.7-27.2 J/m ZX; unnotched 260-406 J/m XZ against 68-116 J/m ZX (printed, ASTM D256/D4812, Stratasys). Charpy unnotched 19.7 +/- 4.3 horizontal and 39 +/- 10 vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[4][3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa7.5 MPa printed Z, GB/T 1040 (manufacturer test)[1]28-37 at break (printed ZX, ASTM D638, Stratasys F900 and F3300) against 72 +/- 5 at yield printed vertical (ISO 527-1, Prusament on the Pro HT90 with a 0.6 mm nozzle and 90 °C chamber) — a fourfold spread driven by chamber temperature and bead size[4][3]
Brittleness1–5Not documentedBrittle — snaps with little warning; notched Charpy only 3.4 kJ/m²[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell90 Shore A nominal grade designation; do not compare numerically with Shore D or Rockwell.[10]Shore D 83.5 (Prusa Polymers method); Rockwell M110 / R126 on extruded PEI stock (ASTM D785)[3][13]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedExcellent — holds load for years. Printed coupons hold 215 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa (ASTM D648) and extruded PEI stock is rated 170 °C long-term service[4][13]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Not documentedRigid[3]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented36-40 (Stratasys ZX against XZ tensile at break, ASTM D638) against 76 (Prusament vertical against horizontal tensile yield, ISO 527-1)[4][3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented207 (Prusament, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa) to 217 (printed XY 216.9 and XZ 217.1, ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi, Stratasys); 3DXTech quotes 208[3][4][2]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented194 (Prusament, ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa) to 215 (printed XY 215.1 and XZ 214.5, ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi, Stratasys) — the highest heat deflection in the dataset[3][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented209 (moulded plaque, ASTM D7426 inflection point, Stratasys); 217 (DSC, 3DXTech)[4][2]
Melting point / Vicat°C110 °C Vicat softening (GB/T 1633, 120 °C/h, 10 N); not HDT or a continuous-use rating.[1]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented170 long-term service on extruded PEI stock, converted from 338 °F; 200 short term[13]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented36.1 (printed XY, -50 to 60 °C, ASTM E831), falling to 29.8 over 60-205 °C; ZX gives 32.5 over -50 to 110 °C and 16.2 over 110-165 °C[4]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedUL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm, rated on the base resin[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Not documentedModerate — 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[14]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Not documentedVentilated room or enclosure recommended[14]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNot documentedChlorinated hydrocarbons — dichloromethane and chloroform — are solvents for polyetherimide. Laboratory reagents.[15][16]
Softened or crazed byNot documentedAcetone, MEK, benzene, toluene and butyl acetate craze or stress-crack it; alcohols, fuels and dilute acids do not.[16][15]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNot documentedDichloromethane is the only welding route, and it is a controlled carcinogen rather than a workshop material.[15][16]

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. eSUN PEBA-90A Technical Data Sheet v1.0 (Aug 2025), checked 2026-10-17 eSUN · 2025-08 · tds
  2. ThermaX PEI 1010 Technical Data Sheet v4 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Prusament PEI 1010 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-09 · tds
  4. ULTEM 1010 Resin — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2026-06 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Kimya PEI-1010 Amber Yellow 1.75 mm 500 g igo3d · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Prusa Prusament PEI 1010 Natural (NFC), 1.75 mm / 500 g 3DJAKE · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. 3D4Makers product catalogue 3D4Makers · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. IEMAI 3D PEI 1010 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. eSUN PEBA-90A official product page: 1 kg price and product identity eSUN · 2026-10-17 · vendor
  11. Prusament PEI 1010 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  12. THERMAX PEI 1010 — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  13. TECAPEI natural (PEI) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  14. 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
  15. Radel PPSU, Veradel PESU, Acudel modified PPSU Design Guide — environmental stress cracking tables Solvay Specialty Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  16. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds