3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PETG-CF vs PVA

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

Carbon-fibre PETG (PETG-CF) guidePVA (soluble support) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PETG-CF comparisonsMore PVA comparisons
PETG-CF vs PVA — documented properties and sources
PropertyCarbon-fibre PETG (PETG-CF)PETGPVA (soluble support)SUPPORT
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$29.99/kg median; $16.00–$74.22/kg across 11 dated product listings$65.98/kg median; $42.00–$96.00/kg across 5 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPETG reinforced with chopped carbon fibre[1][2]Polyvinyl alcohol — a water-soluble support polymer[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.25 (Bambu Lab) to 1.34 (3DXTech), ISO 1183; Prusament 1.27[1][5][2]0.6–0.9 (3DXTech AquaTek, ISO 1183) and 1.13 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[3][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 16–74; the middle of the market is about 29[1][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–96; the middle of the market is about 66[13][14][15][16]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg16–74 across brands; ELEGOO 16 in a 5 kg pack, Reli3D 17, SUNLU 20, IEMAI 22, Siraya Tech 25, Bambu Lab 32, Sakata 3D 53, 3DXTech 67, Prusament 70, Filament PM 74 on 0.5 kg spools[17][1][13][6][7][8][9][10][11][12]42–96 across brands; IEMAI 3D E-WATER 42, YXPOLYER 55, Reli3D 66 at 500 g, Polymaker PolyDissolve S1 67 at 750 g, 3DXTech AquaTek 96 at 750 g in 1.75 mm[13][14][15][18][16]
Market availability1–5Stocked by most mainstream brands[1][13][6][17]Stocked by most mainstream brands[13][14][15][18][16]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.75 and 1 kg spools[13][1]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 0.75 kg spools[13][14]
Typical applicationsStiff functional parts and fixtures where PETG's toughness is traded for rigidity and a matte finish[1][2]Dissolvable support for PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG — Polymaker names those four for PolyDissolve S1[4]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.02 (Prusament)[2]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C240–270 (Bambu Lab); 265 ± 10 (Prusament)[1][2]215–225 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[4]
Bed temperature°C65–75 (Bambu Lab); 90 ± 10 (Prusament)[1][2]25–60 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame fine; draught shield helps — Bambu Lab specifies a 35–50 °C chamber[1]Open frame is fine[4]
Recommended chamber temperature°C35–50 (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Part cooling fan0–60 % (Bambu Lab); 50 % (Prusament)[1][2]Part cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[19]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI or engineering plate with glue (Bambu Lab)[1]PEI sheet or painter's tape[19]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s11.5 on My Tech Fun's Bambu Lab PETG-CF profile[20]4–12 at Polymaker's 50–150 mm/s on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[4]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive[1]Sticks to most surfaces[19]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Slight — the fibre reduces stringing against unfilled PETG[1][21]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[19]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; hardened nozzle mandatory[1]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; PVA is unusable once it has taken up moisture[22][4]
Extruder requirementNot documentedA second extruder or a tool changer; PVA is a support material, not a model material[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Brass fine indefinitely[4]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[1]Non-abrasive[4]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech specifies a hardened 0.4 mm minimum nozzle and 0.25 mm layers or higher, and Prusa lists composites as a higher clogging risk[23][24]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet PVA foams and carbonises in the nozzle[22]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[21]High — all-metal hotend and strong cooling needed; Simplify3D warns PVA clogs if the nozzle is left hot while not extruding[19]
Hotend requirementHardened steel nozzle; no high-temperature hot-end needed[1][21]No special hot-end required, but the nozzle must not be parked hot[19]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Low — 0.30 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[1]Very high (>2 %) — Polymaker measures 10.21 % equilibrium water absorption, by far the highest in the dataset[4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.30 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab); Prusa measures 0.10 after 7 days at 22 % RH[1][2]10.21 equilibrium water absorption (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[4]
Drying temperature & time65 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[1]Not documented
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[22]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface; with PVA this progresses to clogging[22]
Effect of moisture on strengthNo dry-versus-conditioned figures published; Bambu Lab states PETG-CF must be properly dried before printing and stored dry after use[1][22]Polymaker groups PVA with nylon as the most moisture-prone class and says it often has to stay in a dryer while printing; there is no published dry-versus-conditioned strength comparison because PVA is not a structural material[22]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Bambu Lab says store dry after use[1][22]Sealed with desiccant at all times; PVA takes up water faster than any other filament here[22][4]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa35 ± 5 (Bambu Lab) and 47 ± 2 at yield (Prusament) printed XY, ISO 527; 56 at break for 3DXTech[1][2][5]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa2460 ± 230 (Bambu Lab) and 1700 (Prusament) printed XY, ISO 527[1][2]Not documented
Elongation at break%4.3 at yield (Prusament, printed XY, ISO 527); 3 at break for 3DXTech[2][5]Not documented
Flexural strengthMPa68 ± 3 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[2]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa2300 printed horizontal, 3100 printed vertical, ISO 178 (Prusament)[2]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 29 ± 6 printed horizontal and 43 ± 8 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1); Izod 4.91 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun bars[2][20]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa29 ± 4 printed Z (Bambu Lab, ISO 527); 18 ± 3 by Prusa's interlayer adhesion test; 10.7 on My Tech Fun bars[1][2][20]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[5]Not documented
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell77 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method)[2]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Below average — a 12 mm bar sagged to 16.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, less than plain PETG's 19.4[20]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; PVA is not used structurally[3]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no CF-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[25]Poor — fails after a few cycles[3]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Not documented
Z strength as % of XY%83 (Bambu Lab, printed Z against XY tensile)[1]Not documented
Wear resistance & frictionNot documented3DXTech marks tensile strength, modulus and elongation as not applicable for its PVA support grade — it is not characterised as a structural material[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C74 (Bambu Lab) and 96 (Prusament), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[1][2]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C68 (Bambu Lab) and 80 (Prusament), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[1][2]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C68 (Bambu Lab) and 80 (3DXTech), DSC[1][5]60 (3DXTech AquaTek, DSC)[3]
Melting point / Vicat°C225 melting (Bambu Lab, DSC) — the carbon fibre lets the PET fraction crystallise[1]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°C77 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature, against 61 for Bambu Lab PETG Basic[20]Bounded by a glass transition of 60 °C[3]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[1]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[3]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Moderate — a season or two; the carbon fibre does not add UV stabilisation[26]Degrades within weeks outdoors, and dissolves in rain long before UV matters[4]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure, as for unfilled PETG[26]Dissolves in water; unusable in any wet or humid service environment[4][19]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedDissolves or disintegrates — by design[4][3]
Food contactNot certified for food contact[26]Not offered as a food-contact material[3]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[26]PVA is water-soluble and biodegrades in wastewater treatment, but Simplify3D notes disposal should follow local guidance[19]
RecyclabilityFibre-filled PETG is not accepted in household plastic collection[26]Dissolved PVA goes to drain rather than to recycling[19]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10⁹ ohm/sq — carbon fibre at this loading is not static-dissipative (3DXTech)[5]Surface resistance above 10^13 ohm/sq (ASTM D257, 3DXTech AquaTek PVA)[3]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[27]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[27]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[27]Open a window / occasional ventilation[27]
Dust & fibre handling hazardCarbon fibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[5]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands to a matte finish more readily than unfilled PETG[21]Not sanded — it is dissolved away rather than finished[19]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds it[21]Not applicable — PVA is a sacrificial support[19]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[21]Water is the solvent; no vapour smoothing is used[4]
Support material pairingSupport for PLA or its own material (Bambu Lab)[1]This is the support material; Polymaker pairs PolyDissolve S1 with PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG[4]
Dimensional accuracy & detailMatte finish hides layer lines; stringing is reduced against unfilled PETG[1]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the matrix surface, 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it in a week.[28][29]Water — tap water works cold, warm moving water is faster; 6–12 h typical, changing the water every few hours.[30][31]
Softened or crazed byAcetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[28]Nothing else: polyvinyl alcohol resists organic solvents, so an IPA or acetone rinse leaves the support intact.[32]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane reaches only the resin, so the fibre is left standing proud of the surface. Controlled carcinogen.[29]None — water dissolves PVA rather than welding it, and no solvent gives it a smoothed surface.[30]

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 — PETG-CF Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Prusament PETG Carbon Fiber Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  3. AquaTek PVA Water Soluble Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  4. PolyDissolve S1 Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  5. CarbonX Carbon Fiber PETG Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  6. Printed Solid product catalogue Printed Solid · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. SUNLU PETG-CF (PETG Carbon Fiber) 3D Printer Filament 1 kg SUNLU · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Fibreheart PETG-CF Pro Filament product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. IEMAI CF-PETG 3D Printing Filament product page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Reli3D Carbon Fiber PETG Filament 1.75 mm, 1 kg Reli3D (Amazon US) · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. PET-G CF15 Sakata 3D Filaments · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Filament PM CFJet technical data sheet (TDS CFJet ENG.pdf) Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  13. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. YXPOLYER PVA 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. IEMAI 3D E-WATER water-soluble support filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. ELEGOO product catalogue ELEGOO · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. Reli3D PVA Filament 1.75 mm 500 g Natural — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  19. PVA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  20. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  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. CARBONX PETG+CF — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  26. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  27. 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
  28. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  29. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  30. PolyDissolve S1 — Polymaker Wiki Polymaker · 2026-08 · doc
  31. 3DXTech AquaTek PVA product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  32. Polyvinyl alcohol — KURARAY POVAL application guide Kuraray · 2026-08 · tds