3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

rPETG vs PLA Matte

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

Recycled PETG (rPETG) guideMatte PLA guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore rPETG comparisonsMore PLA Matte comparisons
rPETG vs PLA Matte — documented properties and sources
PropertyRecycled PETG (rPETG)PETGMatte PLAPLA
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$28.99/kg median; $17.24–$39.98/kg across 4 dated product listings$19.09/kg median; $10.99–$32.16/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 compounded with a mineral filler — Fiberlogy names chalk — that scatters light into a diffuse finish[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.27 (Prusament) and 1.30 (Fiberon PETG-rCF08), ISO 1183[1][3]1.31 (Bambu Lab, ISO 1183) to 1.38 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral, method not stated) — above plain PLA from the filler[5][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 29[6][7][8][9]Mainstream 1 kg spools cluster near 21[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]11–32 across brands; budget house brands 11–19, Fiberlogy PLA Mineral 32[13][11][14]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[6][7][8]Stocked by most mainstream brands[13][12][10]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 1 and 3 kg spools[8][7]1.75 mm; 1 kg spools plus spool-less refills[10][15]
Typical applicationsNot documentedDisplay models and visible parts where a matte, non-reflective finish matters[5]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.05 (Prusament PETG Recycled), against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]±0.03 (Bambu Lab)[17]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250 ± 10 (Prusament); 230–255 (Spectrum)[1][2]190–230 (Bambu Lab); 190–210 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral)[5][4]
Bed temperature°C80 ± 10 (Prusament); 60–80 (Spectrum)[1][2]35–45 (Bambu Lab); 60 (Fiberlogy)[5][4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Spectrum states a closed chamber is not necessary[2]Open frame is fine[5][4]
Part cooling fan50 % (Prusament); up to 100 % (Spectrum)[1][2]Fan on; Fiberlogy specifies 75–100 %[5][4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[16][18]Cool plate, high-temperature plate or textured PEI with glue (Bambu Lab); smooth PEI, textured PEI or glass (Fiberlogy)[5][4]
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[16][18]Sticks to anything[19]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[18]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Easy — minor profile tuning; Spectrum describes printing as similar to standard PETG[2]Beginner — prints on any machine out of the box[5][4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[1]Brass fine indefinitely[20][5][4]
Abrasiveness1–5Not documentedSlightly abrasive — mineral filler pushes density from 1.24 to 1.31–1.38[4][5][21]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — recycled PETG prints on the same hardware as virgin PETG: no special hot-end, no drybox and no hardened nozzle[22][20]Very low[20]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[22]Moderate — good heatbreak cooling needed; PLA softens below 60 °C[23]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[22]No special hot-end required[19]
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[16]Moderate — 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH[5]
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 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)[5]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented50 °C for 8 h in a forced-air dryer, or 60–70 °C for 12 h on an X1 heatbed; Fiberlogy specifies 50 °C for 6 h[5][4][24]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[25]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing, rough surface and weak layers[25]
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[25]Polymaker rates PLA low-sensitivity — the loss shows as poor layer adhesion and brittle layers rather than a published strength figure[25]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[25][18]Sealed with desiccant below 20 % RH; shelf life at ambient is long[21][19]
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][16][2]30 (printed XY, ISO 527, Bambu Lab); 35.1 on My Tech Fun bars for PolyTerra PLA[5][26]
Young's modulusMPa1500 printed horizontal, 1600 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 527-1) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]1960 (Bambu Lab, printed XY, ISO 527); Fiberlogy PLA Mineral quotes 3500 (ISO 527, specimen type not stated)[5][4]
Elongation at break%4.5 at yield printed (Prusament); Spectrum quotes 400 at break on moulded specimens[1][2]14.8 (printed XY, ISO 527)[5]
Flexural strengthMPa63 ± 1 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament), against 66 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]53 (printed XY, ISO 178) — 30 % below PLA Basic at 76[5][21]
Flexural modulusMPa1800 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[1]2360 (printed XY, ISO 178)[5]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 15 ± 3 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[1]6.3 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched); unnotched 19.2[5]
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 25 ± 3 printed horizontal and 38 ± 11 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[1]Izod 6.1 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars for PolyTerra PLA[26]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa15 ± 5 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test), against 18 ± 4 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]22 (printed Z, ISO 527); flexural Z falls to 29 against 53 in XY; 12.9 on My Tech Fun layer-adhesion bars[5][26]
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Brittle — snaps with little warning[5]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][16]Not documented
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[27][28][29][30]Poor — 12 mm bar sagged to 18.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[26]
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[31]Poor — no grade-specific S-N curve; plain printed PLA ran 38 000–49 000 cycles at 30 % of tensile strength (R = 0.2)[31][23]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[1]Rigid[5]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented73 by tensile, 55 by flexural (printed, Bambu Lab)[5]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 70[1][16][2]58 (Bambu Lab) and 48 (Fiberlogy PLA Mineral), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[5][4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]52 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[5]
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented61 (DSC)[5]
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented163 peak melt (DSC); Vicat 63 °C[5]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documented54 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature[26]
Annealing responseNot documented50–60 °C for 6–12 h; some prints deform or warp, and a forced-air oven is required[5]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[32]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published by the major brands[21][33]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors[23][34]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[18]Good against weak acids, oils and grease; poor against strong acids and alkalis; dissolved by chloroform, THF and hot benzene[33][23]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedGood — insoluble in water[21]
Food contactNot certified for food contact as filament[18]Base resin is food-contact grade, but printed layer grooves harbour bacteria; Prusa advises against food use[23]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[18]Industrially compostable only — needs sustained 55 °C; not home compostable[35][23]
RecyclabilityThe feedstock itself — Spectrum describes collecting, shredding and re-homogenising PETG waste[2]Mechanically recyclable; not accepted in household plastic collection[35]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[36]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission[36]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[36]None needed in a normal room[36]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[22]Wet sanding — dry sanding heats the surface by friction and smears it[34][23]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[22]Cyanoacrylate for most joints; some grades partially dissolve and bond with acetone[23][37]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[22]No practical vapour smoothing — only chloroform, hot benzene or THF, which are laboratory-only[23]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[22]Support for PLA (Bambu Lab)[5]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedMatte surface hides layer lines; 55° overhangs and 30 mm bridges as for plain PLA[5]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[38][39]Chloroform: 10 % w/v in 2–4 h at 23 °C, every grade and morphology; THF and DMF only at 65 °C. Laboratory reagents.[40]
Softened or crazed byAcetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[38]Acetone, ethyl acetate and toluene plasticise it but dissolve <1 % even at 65 °C; submersion in acetone crazes and destroys parts.[40][39]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[39]Chloroform vapour smooths and welds PLA at the cost of tensile strength; acetone does not smooth it at all.[41][39]

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. PLA Mineral — product and technical data Fiberlogy · 2026-08 · tds
  5. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Matte Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · 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. Polymaker Panchroma Matte PLA — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. Overture Matte PLA 1.75mm Overture3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Matte PLA filament collection Anycubic Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Matte PLA filament collection Sunlu Official Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  14. Fiberlogy PLA Mineral — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  15. Extrudr PLA NX2 Matt — product listing 3DJake International · 2026-08 · vendor
  16. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  17. PLA Basic — product page Bambu Lab US Store · 2026-08 · vendor
  18. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  19. PLA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet V3.0 — PLA Basic Bambu Lab · 2026-08 · tds
  22. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  23. PLA — material guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  24. Filament Drying Recommendations Bambu Lab Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  25. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  26. PolyTerra PLA vs PLA+ — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  27. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  28. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  29. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  30. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  31. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  32. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  33. PolyLite PLA Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  34. Prusament PLA Technical Data Sheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2018-09 · tds
  35. Filamentive PLA (recycled) — product page Filamentive · 2026-08 · vendor
  36. 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
  37. Prusament rPLA Corn Pigment 1kg — product page Prusa Research · 2026-08 · vendor
  38. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  39. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  40. Solubility Study of Ingeo Biopolymer Grades in Common Organic Solvents (NWPD003) NatureWorks · 2019-10 · tds
  41. 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