3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PETG-ESD vs TPU soft

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

ESD-safe PETG guideSoft TPU (below 85A) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PETG-ESD comparisonsMore TPU soft comparisons
PETG-ESD vs TPU soft — documented properties and sources
PropertyESD-safe PETGPETGSoft TPU (below 85A)FLEX
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$102.99/kg median; $65.98–$140.00/kg across 2 dated product listings$114.04/kg median; $109.80–$122.27/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPETG compounded with a conductive filler to bring surface resistivity into the static-dissipative range[1][2]Very soft thermoplastic elastomers below 85 Shore A. Fiberlogy's FiberFlex 30D measures 81 Shore A, the softest grade with a published datasheet found here[3]
Densityg/cm³1.24 (Fiberon) and 1.28 (3DXTech), ISO 1183[1][2]1.07 (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 30D, ISO 1183)[3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 66–140; the middle of the market is about 103[4][5]1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 115[6][7][8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg66–140 across brands; Fiberon PETG-ESD 66, 3DXSTAT ESD-PETG 140[4][5]110–122 at 1 kg-equivalent; Recreus 70A 110 and 60A 116 at 500 g, NinjaTek Edge 83A 112, NinjaTek Chinchilla 75A 122; the Recreus 3 kg spools fall to 70–73[6][8][7]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[4][5]Niche, a handful of specialist brands[3][9][6]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1 and 3 kg spools[4][5]1.75, 2.85 and 3 mm; 0.5, 0.85, 1, 2 and 3 kg spools[3][6][10][7]
Typical applicationsElectronics fixtures, trays and jigs handled around static-sensitive components[1][2]Highly compliant seals, soft grips and prosthetic liners[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250–290 (Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Bed temperature°C70–80 (Fiberon); 70 (3DXTech)[1][2]50–70 (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 30D)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Fiberon specifies room-temperature chamber[1]Open frame is fine[3]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[11][12]PEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[13][14]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sFiberon rates the material to 500 mm/s, equivalent to 40 on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer — a machine-limited headline rather than a measured melt rate[1][15]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[11][12]Not documented
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[12]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; resistivity depends on getting the nozzle temperature right[1]Expert / industrial hardware only — below 85 Shore A the filament buckles in almost any feed path that is not a short, constrained direct drive[10][14]
Extruder requirementNot documentedDirect drive only, with a constrained filament path; Bowden is not viable at this hardness[10][9]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Brass fine indefinitely[16]
Abrasiveness1–5Moderately abrasive — conductive carbon filler[1]Non-abrasive[16]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for its ESD-PETG, only a 65 °C pre-dry[17]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; below 85 Shore A the filament buckles and compresses, and Simplify3D warns that raised feed rates most likely end in a jam[13][14][18]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[19]Very high — softens in the cold zone readily[14]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[19]No special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[13]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — the PETG matrix reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 65 °C, 4 h pre-dry[11][17]Moderate[18]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.41 equilibrium water absorption (Fiberon PETG-ESD)[1]Not documented
Drying temperature & time65 °C for 3 h (Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[18]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[18]
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker groups PETG with nylon, PVA and TPU as highly hygroscopic; no dry-versus-conditioned strength figures are published for this grade and the loss shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion[18]Polymaker groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials; no dry-versus-conditioned figures are published[18]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[18][12]Sealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[18]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa36.1 ± 0.9 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 50 at break[1][2]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa1983 ± 75 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Elongation at break%7.3 ± 0.7 printed XY, ISO 527 (Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 13 at break[1][2]870 at break (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 30D, ISO 527) — the highest elongation in the dataset[3]
Flexural strengthMPa54.0 ± 2.5 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa1651 ± 141 printed XY, ISO 178 (Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.7 ± 0.5 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 29.3 ± 2.2 printed XY (Fiberon, ISO 179)[1]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa20.7 ± 0.6 printed Z, ISO 527 (Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Very ductile — bends far before failing[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented81 Shore A and 30 Shore D (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 30D, ISO 7619)[3]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Below average — no ESD-grade creep test; unfilled PETG sagged from 12 to 17.1–20.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[20][21][22][23]Poor — no creep test at this hardness; a printed 95A TPU bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[24]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no ESD-grade S-N curve; unfilled printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[25]Excellent — living hinges viable[14]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[1]Rubbery / highly elastic[3]
Z strength as % of XY%57 (Fiberon, printed Z against XY tensile)[1]Not documented
Wear resistance & frictionNot documentedTear strength 95 kN/m (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 30D, ISO 34-1)[3]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C76 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, Fiberon)[1]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C72 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, Fiberon)[1]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C77 (Fiberon) and 80 (3DXTech), DSC[1][2]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CAmorphous — no melting point; Vicat 86 (Fiberon, ISO 306)[1]170 melting (Fiberlogy FiberFlex 30D, DSC)[3]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[26]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedGood — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[14]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[12]Withstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[14]
Food contactNot certified for food contact as filament[12]Not food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[14]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[12]Not biodegradable[14]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[12]Not accepted in household plastic collection[14]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistivity falls with nozzle temperature: 7.0×10⁶–1.6×10⁷ ohm at 250 °C, 3.2×10⁵–4.7×10⁵ at 270 °C and below 1×10⁴ at 290 °C (Fiberon); 3DXTech quotes 10⁷–10⁹ ohm/sq[1][2]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[27]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[27]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[27]Open a window / occasional ventilation[27]
Dust & fibre handling hazardConductive carbon filler is bound in the matrix; avoid inhaling sanding dust[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[19]Difficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[14]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[19]Cyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[14]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[19]No practical vapour smoothing[14]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[19]Polymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[14]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNozzle temperature has to be held steady — it moves surface resistivity by three orders of magnitude[1]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[28][29]DMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[30]
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]Toluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; esters swell it severely; ethanol and IPA soften it.[30]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[29]None practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[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. Fiberon PETG-ESD Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  2. 3DXSTAT ESD-PETG Technical Data Sheet 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. FiberFlex 30D Technical Data Sheet Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  4. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Recreus product catalogue Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Chinchilla product page — print guidelines, spool sizes and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. NinjaFlex Edge product page — durometer, print guidelines and price NinjaTek · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Filaflex 82A product page (Shore hardness and elongation) Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. NinjaFlex 85A Technical Specifications NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  11. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  12. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  14. TPU — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  17. 3DXSTAT ESD-PETG — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  20. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  21. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  22. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  23. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  24. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  25. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  26. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  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. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds