3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

rPETG vs PLA HS

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

Recycled PETG (rPETG) guideHigh-Speed PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore rPETG comparisonsMore PLA HS comparisons
rPETG vs PLA HS — documented properties and sources
PropertyRecycled PETG (rPETG)PETGHigh-Speed PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$28.99/kg median; $17.24–$39.98/kg across 4 dated product listings$19.99/kg median; $11.49–$32.99/kg across 10 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPETG regranulated from recycled polyester waste; Polymaker's Fiberon PETG-rCF08 adds 8 wt% recycled carbon fibre[1][2][3]PLA with rheology and crystallisation tuned for high volumetric flow; melt index 15.4 g/10 min vs 7–11 for standard PLA[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.27 (Prusament) and 1.30 (Fiberon PETG-rCF08), ISO 1183[1][3]1.23 (ISO 1183, at 21.5 °C)[4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 29[6][7][8][9]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 20[10][11][12]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg17–40 across brands; Filament PM RePETG 17, 3DXTech ECOMAX 26, GreenGate3D 32, Fiberon rCF08 40[6][7][8][9]11–33 across brands; budget house brands 11–18, Prusament 33[13][14][15]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[6][7][8]Stocked by most mainstream brands[16][12][17]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 1 and 3 kg spools[8][7]1.75 mm; 1 kg spools[10][12]
Typical applicationsNot documentedLarge or repetitive prints on printers that can sustain high flow[18][16]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.05 (Prusament PETG Recycled), against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][19]±0.03 (Bambu Lab PLA Basic, rated to 258 mm/s)[20]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250 ± 10 (Prusament); 230–255 (Spectrum)[1][2]210–230 for high-speed work; 190–210 at classic speeds[4][16]
Bed temperature°C80 ± 10 (Prusament); 60–80 (Spectrum)[1][2]30–60 (Polymaker); 35–45 (Bambu Lab)[4][21]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Spectrum states a closed chamber is not necessary[2]Open frame is fine[4]
Part cooling fan50 % (Prusament); up to 100 % (Spectrum)[1][2]Fan on[4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[19][22]Not documented
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented≈24 at 300 mm/s with a 0.4 mm nozzle and 0.2 mm layer; 30 % more flow than regular PLA at the same temperature[4][16][18][23]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedNone[4]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[19][22]Sticks to anything[24]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[22]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Easy — minor profile tuning; Spectrum describes printing as similar to standard PETG[2]Easy — minor profile tuning; needs a printer that can actually reach the flow rate[16][4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[1]Brass fine indefinitely[25]
Abrasiveness1–5Not documentedNon-abrasive[26][25]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — recycled PETG prints on the same hardware as virgin PETG: no special hot-end, no drybox and no hardened nozzle[27][25]Very low[25]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[27]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[28]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[27]No special hot-end required[24]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — recycled PETG shares the virgin matrix, which reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[19]Moderate — 0.40 % equilibrium at 23 °C / 70 % RH[4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.07 after 24 h and 0.10 after 7 days at 24 °C / 22 % RH (Prusa Polymers)[1]0.40 equilibrium at 23 °C / 70 % RH (Polymaker PolySonic)[4]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented55 °C for 6 h; 50 °C for 8 h (Bambu Lab)[4][21]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[29]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[29]
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[29]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[29]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[29][22]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[21][24]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa43 ± 1.8 printed horizontal at yield, ISO 527-1 (Prusament), against 47 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 52 at yield on moulded specimens[1][19][2]43.9 at 300 mm/s and 46.0 at 46.7 mm/s (printed XY, ISO 527); 58.6 on My Tech Fun bars for Creality Hyper PLA[4][30]
Young's modulusMPa1500 printed horizontal, 1600 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 527-1) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][19]2650 at 300 mm/s, 2878 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 527)[4]
Elongation at break%4.5 at yield printed (Prusament); Spectrum quotes 400 at break on moulded specimens[1][2]15.1 at 300 mm/s, 21.5 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 527)[4]
Flexural strengthMPa63 ± 1 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament), against 66 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][19]71.4 at 300 mm/s, 76.5 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 178)[4]
Flexural modulusMPa1800 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[1]2798 at 300 mm/s, 2868 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 178)[4]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 15 ± 3 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[1]5.0 at 300 mm/s, 6.1 at classic speed (printed XY, ISO 179, notched)[4]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 25 ± 3 printed horizontal and 38 ± 11 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[1]Printing at 300 mm/s instead of 46.7 mm/s costs 4.6 % tensile strength and 18 % notched Charpy[4]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa15 ± 5 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test), against 18 ± 4 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][19]32.4 at 300 mm/s, 37.3 at classic speed (printed Z, ISO 527); 35.3 for Creality Hyper PLA vs 23.0 for average PLA on identical bars[4][30]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Moderate[4]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][19]78.7 Shore D measured on printed bars for Sunlu PLA Meta (My Tech Fun), against 75.3 for the same maker's plain PLA[31]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Below average — no recycled-grade creep test; virgin PETG sagged from 12 to 17.1–20.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[32][33][34][35]Poor — 12 mm bar sagged to 17.7 mm over 6 days at 1.25 kg[30]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Moderate — no recycled-grade S-N curve; virgin printed PETG ran 79 000–193 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength[36]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[36][28]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[1]Rigid[4]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented74 at 300 mm/s, 81 at classic speed (printed)[4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 70[1][19][2]53 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)[4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]52 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[4]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented59 (DSC)[4]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented164 peak melt (DSC); crystallisation 96 °C, Vicat 61 °C[4]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented53 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[30]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented96–99 for plain printed PLA (fibre Bragg grating, 25–50 °C); no grade-specific measurement published[37]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[38]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[21][5]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors[28][39]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[22]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis[4]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — insoluble in water[21]
Food contactNot certified for food contact as filament[22]Base resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[28]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[22]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[40][28]
RecyclabilityThe feedstock itself — Spectrum describes collecting, shredding and re-homogenising PETG waste[2]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[40]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[41]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[41]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[41]None needed in a normal room[41]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[27]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[39][28]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[27]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[28][42]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[27]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[28]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[27]PolySupport and PolyDissolve S1 (Polymaker)[4]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[43][44]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[45]
Softened or crazed byAcetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[43]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[45][44]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[44]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[46][44]

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. Prusament PETG Recycled Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  2. Spectrum r-PETG Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Fiberon PETG-rCF08 Technical Data Sheet V1.0 Polymaker · 2026-08 · tds
  4. PolySonic PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  5. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  6. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. GreenGate3D Recycled PET-G — product data GreenGate3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Filament PM RePETG technical data sheet Filament PM (Plasty Mladec) · 2026-08 · tds
  10. PolySonic PLA 1.75mm/1kg — product page Polymaker Shop · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Overture High Speed PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. High Speed PLA filament collection Anycubic Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. PLA Meta filament collection Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. QIDI PLA Rapido 1.75mm 1kg 3D Printers Depot · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Prusament PLA Prusa Pro Green 1kg (NFC) Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. PolySonic PLA — product page Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. Creality PLA filament collection Creality Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. Polymaker Launches New High-Speed 3D Printing Filament — PolySonic PLA & PLA Pro Polymaker · 2023-11 · doc
  19. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  20. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  22. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  23. Max volumetric speed Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  24. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  26. Prusament PLA — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  27. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  28. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  29. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  30. Creality Hyper PLA filament review — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  31. Carbon Fiber PLA vs META-PLA vs PLA+ vs PLA by Sunlu — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  32. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  33. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  34. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  35. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  36. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  37. Characterization of Thermal Expansion Coefficient of 3D Printing Polymeric Materials Using Fiber Bragg Grating Sensors Materials 17(18):4668 · 2024-09 · paper
  38. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  39. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  40. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  41. 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
  42. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  43. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  44. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  45. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  46. 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