3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PEBA vs PEI 9085

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

PEBA (polyether block amide) guidePEI (ULTEM 9085) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PEBA comparisonsMore PEI 9085 comparisons
PEBA vs PEI 9085 — documented properties and sources
PropertyPEBA (polyether block amide)FLEXPEI (ULTEM 9085)HIGHTEMP
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$60.99/kg median; $60.99–$60.99/kg across 1 dated product listings$309.80/kg median; $220.00–$392.00/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyether block amide: rigid polyamide and flexible polyether blocks.[1]Polyetherimide, ULTEM 9085 grade — the flame-retardant PEI used for aircraft interiors[2]
Densityg/cm³1.01 g/cm³ (GB/T 1033; eSUN manufacturer data)[1]1.34 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech) against 1.27 specific gravity on moulded plaques (ASTM D792, Stratasys) — the two suppliers disagree[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 298[4][5][6][7]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented220-392 across brands and formats; 3DXTech ThermaX PEI 9085 220 at 2 kg, 3D4Makers 270 at 2 kg, Fiberlogy 298 at 500 g, Kimya 321 at 500 g, IEMAI 3D 385 at 1 kg, 3DXTech CarbonX PEI 9085+CF 392[4][5][6][7][8]
Market availability1–5Not documentedNiche, a handful of specialist brands[4][5][6][7]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm diameter, 1 kg spool.[9]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 250 g to 2 kg spools, plus Stratasys canisters[4][7][3]
Typical applicationsManufacturer applications include footwear, sports equipment and cushioning.[1]Aircraft interior parts and rail rolling stock, where the flame, smoke and toxicity rating is the requirement[2]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C230–260 °C; 240 °C recommended.[1]Not documented
Bed temperature°C60–90 °C[1]130–140 (3DXTech)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Not documentedActively heated chamber required[10][11]
Part cooling fan10–50% fan recommended; mechanical-test specimens used 50–100%.[1]Not documented
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI build plate[1]Not documented
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[10]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Not documentedExpert / industrial hardware only[10][11]
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[10]
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 120 °C pre-dry before every print[12]
Moisture Behaviour
Drying temperature & time70–75 °C for 6–8 h; re-dry after receiving or extended exposure.[1]Not documented
Effect of moisture on strengthNot documentedNo dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; 3DXTech mandates a 120 °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]63-77 at break (printed XZ, ASTM D638, Stratasys F900/F3300/Fortus 450mc, three tips and two colours); 54 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech)[3][2]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented2040-2540 (printed XZ, ASTM D638, Stratasys); 2050 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech)[3][2]
Elongation at break%>520% printed XY, GB/T 1040; manufacturer lower bound.[1]5.4-9.1 at break (printed XZ, ASTM D638, Stratasys); 1.9-4.3 in ZX; 3DXTech quotes 3 (ISO 527)[3][2]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented104-116 at break (printed XZ, ASTM D790 Procedure A, Stratasys); 72-98 in ZX; 3DXTech quotes 90 (ISO 178)[3][2]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2400-2550 (printed XZ, ASTM D790, Stratasys F900 T16 and T16A) against 2120-2130 in ZX; 3DXTech quotes 2170 (ISO 178)[3][2]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 88.5-140 J/m XZ against 37-80 J/m ZX; unnotched 647-2260 J/m XZ against 169-633 J/m ZX (printed, ASTM D256/D4812, Stratasys, across three printers and three tips)[3]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa7.5 MPa printed Z, GB/T 1040 (manufacturer test)[1]39-63 at break (printed ZX, ASTM D638, Stratasys); the low end is the F900 T16 baseline, the high end the F3300 N500 hot end[3]
Brittleness1–5Not documentedBrittle — snaps with little warning[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell90 Shore A nominal grade designation; do not compare numerically with Shore D or Rockwell.[9]Rockwell M110 / R126 on extruded PEI stock (ASTM D785)[13]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedExcellent — holds load for years. Printed ZX coupons keep 87 % of room-temperature tensile strength at 104 °C and 70 % at 132 °C (ASTM D638); extruded PEI stock is rated 170 °C long-term service[3][13]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Not documentedRigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented56-86 (Stratasys ZX against XZ tensile at break, ASTM D638, across F900/F3300/Fortus 450mc and T16/T20/T40A tips); 58 on the F900 T16 baseline[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented158 (printed XY, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa, 3DXTech) to 178 (printed XY 178.2 and ZX 178.4, ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi, Stratasys); moulded 176.9[2][3]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented170-173 (printed XY 170.2 and ZX 172.6, ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi); moulded 172.9[3]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented177 (moulded plaque, ASTM D7426 inflection point, Stratasys); 186 (DSC, 3DXTech)[3][2][14]
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 documented44.9 (printed XY, -50 to 80 °C, ASTM E831), falling to 31.4 over 80-160 °C; ZX gives 44.5 over -50 to 60 °C. Black pigment raises it to 51.9[3]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedUL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm on the base resin. Printed parts are tested to 14 CFR 25.853, BSS 7238 and 7239 and AITM 2.0007B and 3.0005 covering 60 s and 12 s vertical burn, 15 s horizontal burn, smoke density, toxic gas emission and OSU heat release[2][3]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedGood — years with some colour shift. 1000 h of QUV cycling to ASTM G154 left printed ZX coupons at 55.5 MPa yield against 56.0 unexposed, with elongation and modulus unchanged[3]
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[15]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Not documentedVentilated room or enclosure recommended[15]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNot documentedChlorinated hydrocarbons — dichloromethane and chloroform — are solvents for polyetherimide. Laboratory reagents.[16][17]
Softened or crazed byNot documentedAcetone, MEK, benzene, toluene and butyl acetate craze or stress-crack it; alcohols, fuels and dilute acids do not.[17][16]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNot documentedDichloromethane is the only welding route, and it is a controlled carcinogen rather than a workshop material.[16][17]

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 9085 Technical Data Sheet v4 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. ULTEM 9085 Resin — FDM Material Data Sheet Stratasys · 2026-04 · tds
  4. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Kimya PEI-9085 Natural 2.85 mm 500 g igo3d · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Fiberlogy PEI 9085 Natural, 1.75 mm / 500 g 3DJAKE · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3D4Makers product catalogue 3D4Makers · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. IEMAI 3D PEI 9085 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. eSUN PEBA-90A official product page: 1 kg price and product identity eSUN · 2026-10-17 · vendor
  10. Prusament PEI 1010 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-09 · tds
  11. Prusament PEI 1010 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  12. THERMAX PEI 9085 — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  13. TECAPEI natural (PEI) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  14. ThermaX PEI 1010 Technical Data Sheet v4 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  15. 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
  16. Radel PPSU, Veradel PESU, Acudel modified PPSU Design Guide — environmental stress cracking tables Solvay Specialty Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  17. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds