3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PEBA vs PLA Metal

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

PEBA (polyether block amide) guideMetal-filled PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PEBA comparisonsMore PLA Metal comparisons
PEBA vs PLA Metal — documented properties and sources
PropertyPEBA (polyether block amide)FLEXMetal-filled PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$60.99/kg median; $60.99–$60.99/kg across 1 dated product listings$79.69/kg median; $24.99–$94.99/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyether block amide: rigid polyamide and flexible polyether blocks.[1]PLA loaded with real metal powder — bronze, copper, steel or iron. Bambu Lab's PLA Sparkle TDS states it has "metal particles included in its composition"; its separately sold PLA Metal does not, and the store page says so explicitly[2][3][4][5][6][7]
Densityg/cm³1.01 g/cm³ (GB/T 1033; eSUN manufacturer data)[1]1.26 (Bambu Lab Sparkle, a trace-metal glitter grade) up to 3.9–4.0 for colorFabb bronze and copper and 2.3 for Proto-pasta steel, ISO 1183[5][2][3][8]
Typical priceUSD/kgNot documented1 kg spools cluster near 78[9][10][4]
Price range across brandsUSD/kgNot documented25–95 across brands; Bambu Lab Sparkle 25, Proto-pasta iron 65, colorFabb bronze and copper 84, Proto-pasta steel 95[9][4][10][8]
Market availability1–5Not documentedAvailable from several mainstream brands[10][4][8][9]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm diameter, 1 kg spool.[11]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.1, 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 1.5 kg spools[12][10]
Typical applicationsManufacturer applications include footwear, sports equipment and cushioning.[1]Decorative castings and props that are polished or left to patinate; the density gives prints a metallic heft[2][4]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C230–260 °C; 240 °C recommended.[1]195–220 (colorFabb bronze and copper); 192 (Proto-pasta iron); 198 (Proto-pasta steel); 190–230 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[2][4][8][5]
Bed temperature°C60–90 °C[1]50–60 (colorFabb, Proto-pasta); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)[2][4][5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Not documentedOpen frame is fine[2]
Part cooling fan10–50% fan recommended; mechanical-test specimens used 50–100%.[1]On (colorFabb copper); 0–100 % (colorFabb bronze)[2][3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI build plate[1]Glass plate with glue stick or tape (colorFabb)[2][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]1.6–2.4 at Proto-pasta's 20–30 mm/s for iron and steel, 3.2–8 at colorFabb's 40–100 mm/s, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[4][8][2][13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Not documentedIntermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; brittle in filament form and slow to print[4][8]
Extruder requirementNot documentedProto-pasta advises an extrusion width 0.05 mm larger than the nozzle and warns that feeding is inconsistent below 0.4 mm and on Bowden machines[4][8]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Not documentedBrass acceptable; hardened steel for volume work[4][8]
Abrasiveness1–5Not documentedModerately abrasive — metal fill[4][8]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Not documentedModerate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[8]
Hotend requirementNot documentedProto-pasta recommends a wear-resistant or larger nozzle for longer service intervals[4][8]
Other hardware wearNot documentedProto-pasta warns of more frequent nozzle replacement and first-layer adjustment[4][8]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedModerate — the PLA matrix takes up 0.40–0.51 % saturated; the metal powder itself does not absorb water[14][15]
Drying temperature & time70–75 °C for 6–8 h; re-dry after receiving or extended exposure.[1]Not documented
Effect of moisture on strengthNot documentedPolymaker 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[16]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa>16.5 MPa printed XY, GB/T 1040; manufacturer lower bound, not an exact measurement.[1]25 (colorFabb copper) and 30 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; Bambu Lab Sparkle 39 ± 3 printed XY, ISO 527[2][3][5]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented1940 ± 230 printed XY, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Elongation at break%>520% printed XY, GB/T 1040; manufacturer lower bound.[1]3–10 (colorFabb copper) and 5–10 (colorFabb bronze), ISO 527-1A; 11.7 for Bambu Lab Sparkle printed XY[2][3][5]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented75 ± 4 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2350 ± 140 printed XY, ISO 178 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²Not documented23.2 ± 2.4 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 4.5 kJ/m² for colorFabb bronzeFill and 10 kJ/m² for copperFill (ISO 180); Charpy unnotched 66.5 kJ/m² for Bambu Lab Sparkle[2][3][5]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa7.5 MPa printed Z, GB/T 1040 (manufacturer test)[1]32 ± 2 printed Z, ISO 527 (Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Brittleness1–5Not documentedBrittle — Proto-pasta describes both its iron and steel grades as more brittle than standard PLA in filament form[4][8]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell90 Shore A nominal grade designation; do not compare numerically with Shore D or Rockwell.[11]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedPoor — no metal-filled creep test; plain printed PLA sagged from 12 to 16.2–21.8 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[17][18][19]
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 and Proto-pasta describes its iron and steel grades as more brittle than standard PLA[20][4][8]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Not documentedRigid[5]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented82 by tensile (printed, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°CNot documented55 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°CNot documented53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented56 (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Melting point / Vicat°C110 °C Vicat softening (GB/T 1633, 120 °C/h, 10 N); not HDT or a continuous-use rating.[1]156 peak melt (DSC, Bambu Lab Sparkle)[5]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors[21]
Outdoor durabilityNot documentedProto-pasta markets its iron grade as rustable — the iron oxidises deliberately when exposed to moisture[4]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedProto-pasta magnetic iron PLA is ferromagnetic and responds to magnets[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Not documentedLow hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[22]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Not documentedNone needed in a normal room[22]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedPolishing is the intended finish — colorFabb and Proto-pasta both sell these grades to be sanded and buffed to a metallic shine[2][3][8]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedcolorFabb notes the metal fill increases die swell, so flow needs raising above plain PLA[3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNot documentedChloroform dissolves the PLA matrix (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C) and leaves the filler as loose sludge; laboratory reagent.[23]
Softened or crazed byNot documentedAcetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts.[23][24]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNot documentedChloroform vapour attacks only the resin fraction, so the filler is left standing proud; no workshop-safe agent exists.[25][24]

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. bronzeFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  3. copperFill technical data sheet colorFabb · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Magnetic Iron PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PLA Sparkle Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. PLA Metal — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Metal Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  8. Stainless Steel PLA — product page and technical data Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · tds
  9. PLA Sparkle — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. bronzeFill — product page colorFabb US · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. eSUN PEBA-90A official product page: 1 kg price and product identity eSUN · 2026-10-17 · vendor
  12. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  15. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  16. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  18. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  19. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  20. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  21. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  22. 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
  23. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  24. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  25. 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