3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PET-CF vs PLA-CF

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

Carbon-fibre PET (PET-CF) guideCarbon-fibre PLA (PLA-CF) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PET-CF comparisonsMore PLA-CF comparisons
PET-CF vs PLA-CF — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre PET (PET-CF)PETGCarbon-fibre PLA (PLA-CF)PLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$39.99/kg median; $26.00–$49.98/kg across 4 dated product listings$29.99/kg median; $19.00–$79.98/kg across 9 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistrySemi-crystalline PET reinforced with carbon fibre — a different polymer from PETG-CF, with the glycol modifier removed so the matrix can crystallise[1][2]PLA filled with chopped carbon fibre — 5–10 wt% (Bambu Lab SDS), 8 wt% (Polymaker)[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.29 (Bambu Lab) and 1.34 (Fiberon PET-CF17), ISO 1183[1][2]1.22 (Bambu Lab) to 1.29 (Polymaker, 3DXTech), ISO 1183[5][4][6]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 45[1][7]1 kg spools span 19–80; the middle of the market is about 31[8][9][6][10][11]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg26–50 across brands; ELEGOO 26 in a 5 kg pack, Bambu Lab 45, Fiberon 50[12][1][7]19–80 across brands; IEMAI 19, LANDU 24, SUNLU 27, Polymaker 30, Bambu Lab 32, 3DXTech 47, Proto-pasta 80[9][8][6][13][10][14][11]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[1][7][12]Stocked by most mainstream brands[8][9][6][13]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 and 1 kg spools[7][1]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 3 kg spools[13][6][7]
Typical applicationsLoad-bearing parts that must survive above PETG's 70 °C ceiling without moving to PA or PC[1][2]Stiff jigs, drone and RC frames, tool holders — matte black finish, no gain in tensile strength[5][4]
Diameter tolerance± mmNot documented±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[8]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C260–290 (Bambu Lab)[1]210–240 (Bambu Lab); 190–230 (Polymaker)[5][4]
Bed temperature°C80–100 (Bambu Lab)[1]35–45 (Bambu Lab); 25–60 (Polymaker)[5][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure recommended — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber[1]Open frame is fine[4]
Recommended chamber temperature°C45–60 (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–60 % (Bambu Lab)[1]Fan on[5][4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[15][16]Not documented
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s8 at Bambu Lab's 100 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer — half the speed it allows for PETG-CF[1][17]16 at Bambu Lab's 200 mm/s cap and 24 at Polymaker's 300 mm/s, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer; Bambu Lab's own filament guide says 250 mm/s where its TDS says 200[5][18][4][17]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedNone[5]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[15][16]Not documented
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[16]Slight[4]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[1]Easy — minor profile tuning; needs a hardened nozzle and 0.4 mm or larger[18][4]
Extruder requirementNot documentedNozzles below 0.4 mm are not compatible (Bambu Lab)[18]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Hardened steel required[18][4]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[1]Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[18][19]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Prusa lists higher risk of nozzle clogging for carbon-filled composites[20]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle[18]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[21]Not documented
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[21]Hardened steel nozzle; Bambu Lab lists PLA-CF among the filaments its hardened-steel nozzle exists for[19][18]
Other hardware wearNot documentedBambu Lab reports AMS wear; Polymaker advises against running PLA-CF through an AMS at all[18][4]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate — 0.37 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.53 % equilibrium (Fiberon)[1][2]Moderate — 0.42 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.38 % equilibrium (Polymaker)[5][4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.37 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.53 equilibrium (Fiberon PET-CF17)[1][2]0.42 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); 0.38 equilibrium (Polymaker)[5][4]
Drying temperature & time80 °C for 8–12 h (Bambu Lab) — the longest and hottest dry in the polyester family; Fiberon specifies 100 °C for 10 h[1][2]55 °C for 6–8 h[5][4]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[22]Not documented
Effect of moisture on strengthBambu Lab publishes its whole mechanical table under the heading "Mechanical Properties (Dry state)" — the quoted figures apply only to dried filament[1]Polymaker 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[22]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[22][16]Not documented
Hydrolysis at melt temperatureThe 80–100 °C dry both suppliers mandate is far above the 55–65 °C used for PETG, consistent with a melt-hydrolysis risk in the semi-crystalline PET matrix; neither publishes a molecular-weight loss figure[1][2]Not documented
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa65.9 (Fiberon) to 74 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 527[1][2]31.2 (Polymaker) to 38 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 527; 48 at break for 3DXTech[5][4][6]
Young's modulusMPa4730 ± 260 (Bambu Lab) and 5481 ± 224 (Fiberon) printed XY, ISO 527[1][2]2790 (Bambu Lab) to 3281 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527; 4950 for 3DXTech[5][4][6]
Elongation at break%2.4 ± 0.5 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon PET-CF17)[2]8.4 (Bambu Lab) and 13.2 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527; 2 for 3DXTech[5][4][6]
Flexural strengthMPa109.3 ± 2.0 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon PET-CF17)[2]51.7 (Polymaker) to 89 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 178[5][4]
Flexural modulusMPa4744 ± 136 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon PET-CF17)[2]3381 (Polymaker) to 3950 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 178; 6320 for 3DXTech[5][4][6]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.1 ± 0.2 printed XY, ISO 179 notched (Fiberon PET-CF17); unnotched 25.1 ± 2.8[2]5.5 (Polymaker) and 7.6 (Bambu Lab) printed XY, ISO 179, notched[5][4]
Other impact dataNot documentedCharpy unnotched 23.2 printed XY (Bambu Lab, ISO 179)[5]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa27.9 (Fiberon) and 35 ± 5 (Bambu Lab) printed Z, ISO 527[1][2]15.1 (Polymaker) to 26 (Bambu Lab) printed Z, ISO 527[5][4]
Brittleness1–5Very brittle — elongation at break 2.4 % in XY and 0.8 % in Z[2]Brittle — snaps with little warning; elongation in Z falls to 0.9 % (Polymaker)[4][5]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented71.5 Shore D measured on printed bars for Sunlu CF PLA (My Tech Fun), against 75.3 for the same maker's unfilled PLA[23]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good — no creep test found; annealed PET-CF holds a 105 °C HDT at 1.8 MPa and a 4730–5481 MPa modulus against 1500–2311 for PETG[2][1]Poor — 12 mm bars sagged to 15.1, 19.8 and 21.3 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg across three brands, against 16.2–21.8 mm for their unfilled PLA[24][25][23]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Below average — no S-N curve; elongation at break is 2.4 % in XY and 0.8 % in Z, against 5.2–9.3 % for unfilled PETG[2]Poor — no CF-grade S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength and elongation in Z falls to 0.9 %[26][4]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%42 (Fiberon) to 47 (Bambu Lab), printed[1][2]48 (Polymaker) to 68 (Bambu Lab), printed[5][4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C147.5 (Fiberon) and 205 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[1][2]54 (Polymaker) to 55 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[5][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C105 (Fiberon) and 182 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[1][2]50 (Polymaker) to 54 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[5][4]
Glass transition (Tg)°C75 (Bambu Lab) and 79.3 (Fiberon), DSC[1][2]62–63 (DSC)[5][4]
Melting point / Vicat°C241.3 (Fiberon) and 250 (Bambu Lab) melting, DSC; Vicat 226–238[1][2]162–165 peak melt (DSC); Vicat 64 °C (Polymaker)[5][4]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented50–61 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature across three brands (Sunlu 50, Bambu Lab and Polymaker 61)[24][25][23]
Annealing responseThe PET matrix crystallises on annealing, which is what separates this grade from PETG-CF[2][1]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[27]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors[28]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[16]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis[4]
Food contactNot certified for food contact as filament[16]Not documented
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[16]Not documented
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[16]Not documented
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (Fiberon PET-CF17, ANSI/ESD S11.11)[2]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[29]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[29]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[29][1]None needed in a normal room[29]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[2]Carbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[3]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[21]Not documented
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[21]Not documented
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[21]Not documented
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[21]Support for PLA (Bambu Lab); PolySupport and PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker)[5][4]
Dimensional accuracy & detailBambu Lab markets it on low warping and shrinkage relative to other high-temperature composites[1]Matte finish hides layer lines; stiffness is the gain — tensile strength stays at or below Bambu Lab PLA Basic's 35 MPa and Polymaker PolyLite PLA's 52.3 MPa[5][4][30][31]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNone common; fluorinated solvents such as hexafluoroisopropanol dissolve linear polyester at 23 °C. Laboratory only.[32][33]Chloroform dissolves the PLA matrix (10 % w/v, 2–4 h at 23 °C) and leaves the filler as loose sludge; laboratory reagent.[34]
Softened or crazed byEnsinger rates polyester not resistant to chloroform or dichloromethane and only conditionally resistant to acetone and MEK.[33]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise the matrix but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; acetone submersion crazes parts.[34][35]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane attacks polyester and can be brushed on, but the carbon fibre blocks any useful surface flow.[33][35]Chloroform vapour attacks only the resin fraction, so the filler is left standing proud; no workshop-safe agent exists.[36][35]

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. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet — PET-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Fiberon PET-CF17 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Safety Data Sheet SDS20251127A50 — Bambu PLA-CF Bambu Lab · 2025-11 · msds
  4. PolyLite PLA-CF Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V4.0 — PLA-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  6. CarbonX PLA+CF Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  7. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. PLA-CF — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. PolyLite PLA-CF — product page Polymaker Shop · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. IEMAI CF-PLA 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. SUNLU PLA-CF Carbon Fiber 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. LANDU Carbon Fiber PLA Filament 1.75 mm Black 1 kg LANDU (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  16. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  18. PLA Usage Guide Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. Nozzles — material and compatibility Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  21. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  22. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  24. BambuLab PLA Basic vs PLA Tough vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  25. Polymaker PLA Pro vs PLA-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  26. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  27. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  28. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  29. 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
  30. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  31. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  32. Resistance of Ultramid, Ultraform and Ultradur to chemicals (TI-KTU/AS-28 e) BASF · 2000-10 · tds
  33. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  34. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  35. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  36. 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