3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

rPETG vs PVA

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

Recycled PETG (rPETG) guidePVA (soluble support) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore rPETG comparisonsMore PVA comparisons
rPETG vs PVA — documented properties and sources
PropertyRecycled PETG (rPETG)PETGPVA (soluble support)SUPPORT
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$28.99/kg median; $17.24–$39.98/kg across 4 dated product listings$65.98/kg median; $42.00–$96.00/kg across 5 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]Polyvinyl alcohol — a water-soluble support polymer[4][5]
Densityg/cm³1.27 (Prusament) and 1.30 (Fiberon PETG-rCF08), ISO 1183[1][3]0.6–0.9 (3DXTech AquaTek, ISO 1183) and 1.13 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[4][5]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg spools cluster near 29[6][7][8][9]1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–96; the middle of the market is about 66[6][8][10][11]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg17–40 across brands; Filament PM RePETG 17, 3DXTech ECOMAX 26, GreenGate3D 32, Fiberon rCF08 40[6][7][8][9]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[6][8][10][12][11]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[6][7][8]Stocked by most mainstream brands[6][8][10][12][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 1 and 3 kg spools[8][7]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 0.75 kg spools[6][8]
Typical applicationsNot documentedDissolvable support for PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG — Polymaker names those four for PolyDissolve S1[5]
Diameter tolerance± mm±0.05 (Prusament PETG Recycled), against ±0.02 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][13]Not documented
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C250 ± 10 (Prusament); 230–255 (Spectrum)[1][2]215–225 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[5]
Bed temperature°C80 ± 10 (Prusament); 60–80 (Spectrum)[1][2]25–60 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[5]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine — Spectrum states a closed chamber is not necessary[2]Open frame is fine[5]
Part cooling fan50 % (Prusament); up to 100 % (Spectrum)[1][2]Part cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[14]
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent[13][15]PEI sheet or painter's tape[14]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented4–12 at Polymaker's 50–150 mm/s on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[5]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it[13][15]Sticks to most surfaces[14]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk[15]Moderate — retraction tuning needed[14]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Easy — minor profile tuning; Spectrum describes printing as similar to standard PETG[2]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; PVA is unusable once it has taken up moisture[16][5]
Extruder requirementNot documentedA second extruder or a tool changer; PVA is a support material, not a model material[5]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[1]Brass fine indefinitely[5]
Abrasiveness1–5Not documentedNon-abrasive[5]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — recycled PETG prints on the same hardware as virgin PETG: no special hot-end, no drybox and no hardened nozzle[17][18]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet PVA foams and carbonises in the nozzle[16]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Slightly sensitive[17]High — all-metal hotend and strong cooling needed; Simplify3D warns PVA clogs if the nozzle is left hot while not extruding[14]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required[17]No special hot-end required, but the nozzle must not be parked hot[14]
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[13]Very high (>2 %) — Polymaker measures 10.21 % equilibrium water absorption, by far the highest in the dataset[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]10.21 equilibrium water absorption (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[5]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[16]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface; with PVA this progresses to clogging[16]
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[16]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[16]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials[16][15]Sealed with desiccant at all times; PVA takes up water faster than any other filament here[16][5]
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][13][2]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa1500 printed horizontal, 1600 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 527-1) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][13]Not documented
Elongation at break%4.5 at yield printed (Prusament); Spectrum quotes 400 at break on moulded specimens[1][2]Not documented
Flexural strengthMPa63 ± 1 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament), against 66 ± 2 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][13]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa1800 printed horizontal, ISO 178 (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²12 ± 1 printed horizontal and 15 ± 3 printed vertical, ISO 179-1 notched (Prusament)[1]Not documented
Other impact dataCharpy unnotched 25 ± 3 printed horizontal and 38 ± 11 printed vertical (Prusament, ISO 179-1)[1]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa15 ± 5 (Prusa Polymers interlayer adhesion test), against 18 ± 4 for virgin Prusament PETG[1][13]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Not documented
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell74 Shore D (Prusa Polymers method) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG[1][13]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[19][20][21][22]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; PVA is not used structurally[4]
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[23]Poor — fails after a few cycles[4]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[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[4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) — the same as virgin Prusament PETG; Spectrum quotes 70[1][13][2]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C68 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)[1]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°CNot documented60 (3DXTech AquaTek, DSC)[4]
Continuous service temperature°CNot documentedBounded by a glass transition of 60 °C[4]
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades[24]Flammable; no UL 94 rating published[4]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors, and dissolves in rain long before UV matters[5]
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure[15]Dissolves in water; unusable in any wet or humid service environment[5][14]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedDissolves or disintegrates — by design[5][4]
Food contactNot certified for food contact as filament[15]Not offered as a food-contact material[4]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[15]PVA is water-soluble and biodegrades in wastewater treatment, but Simplify3D notes disposal should follow local guidance[14]
RecyclabilityThe feedstock itself — Spectrum describes collecting, shredding and re-homogenising PETG waste[2]Dissolved PVA goes to drain rather than to recycling[14]
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance above 10^13 ohm/sq (ASTM D257, 3DXTech AquaTek PVA)[4]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised[25]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[25]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[25]Open a window / occasional ventilation[25]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders[17]Not sanded — it is dissolved away rather than finished[14]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly[17]Not applicable — PVA is a sacrificial support[14]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[17]Water is the solvent; no vapour smoothing is used[5]
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG[17]This is the support material; Polymaker pairs PolyDissolve S1 with PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG[5]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; 1,2-dichloroethane destroys it inside a week and dichloromethane — a carcinogen — dissolves the surface.[26][27]Water — tap water works cold, warm moving water is faster; 6–12 h typical, changing the water every few hours.[28][29]
Softened or crazed byAcetone (+16 % weight over 1 year at 23 °C), ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften it; methanol crazes it.[26]Nothing else: polyvinyl alcohol resists organic solvents, so an IPA or acetone rinse leaves the support intact.[30]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.[27]None — water dissolves PVA rather than welding it, and no solvent gives it a smoothed surface.[28]

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. AquaTek PVA Water Soluble Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  5. PolyDissolve S1 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. YXPOLYER PVA 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  11. IEMAI 3D E-WATER water-soluble support filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. Reli3D PVA Filament 1.75 mm 500 g Natural — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Prusament PETG Technical Datasheet v1.1 Prusa Polymers · 2022-02 · tds
  14. PVA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  15. PETG — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. PET and PETG — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  18. Filament Material Guide Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  19. PCTG vs PETG comparison — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  20. Extrudr PETG vs PCTG vs XPETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  21. Prusament PETG-CF vs PETG V0 vs PETG — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  22. BambuLab PETG Basic vs Translucent vs PETG-CF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2026-08 · test
  23. Mechanical Properties of Additively Manufactured Polymeric Materials — PLA and PETG — For Biomechanical Applications Polymers 16(13):1868 · 2024-06 · paper
  24. Prusament PETG V0 Technical Datasheet Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  25. 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
  26. Eastman Spectar copolyester — Chemical resistance (unstressed bars, 1 year at 23 °C) Eastman Chemical Company · 2026-08 · tds
  27. Improve your 3D prints with chemical smoothing Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  28. PolyDissolve S1 — Polymaker Wiki Polymaker · 2026-08 · doc
  29. 3DXTech AquaTek PVA product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  30. Polyvinyl alcohol — KURARAY POVAL application guide Kuraray · 2026-08 · tds