3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PPS-CF vs PSU

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

Fibre-reinforced PPS guidePSU guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PPS-CF comparisonsMore PSU comparisons
PPS-CF vs PSU — documented properties and sources
PropertyFibre-reinforced PPSHIGHTEMPPSUHIGHTEMP
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$139.98/kg median; $119.98–$174.17/kg across 5 dated product listings$168.00/kg median; $168.00–$168.00/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryCarbon-fibre reinforced PPS — Polymaker's Fiberon grade is nominally 10 wt%[1]Polysulfone — the lowest-temperature and cheapest of the sulfone family[2]
Densityg/cm³1.29 (Fiberon PPS-CF10) and 1.36 (Fiberon PPS-GF20), ISO 1183[1][3]1.24 (ISO 1183)[2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 93–174; the middle of the market is about 140[4][5][6][7]1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 250[8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg93-174 across brands and formats; Polymaker Fiberon PPS-GF20 93 at 3 kg, IEMAI 3D CF-PPS 131 at 750 g, LEHVOSS Luvocom 3F PPS CF 9938 164 at 2.3 kg, Bambu Lab PPS-CF 174 at 750 g[4][5][6][7]168-250 across formats; 250 g spool $42 (168/kg), 500 g $125 (250/kg) — 3DXTech is the only filament supplier found[8]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[4][5][6]Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[4]1.75 mm; 250 g and 500 g spools[8]
Typical applicationsChemical and automotive parts needing PPS chemistry with structural stiffness[1]Transparent high-temperature housings, medical trays and hot-water fittings[2]
Printing Parameters
Bed temperature°CNot documented120–140 (3DXTech)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker states its Fiberon PPS-CF10 needs no heated chamber, unlike the unfilled sulfones and PAEKs[1]Actively heated chamber required[9][10]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[1]Expert / industrial hardware only[9][10]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades, but brass softens near these nozzle temperatures — hardened or plated hot ends are the norm[9]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[1]Non-abrasive when unfilled[2]
Nozzle clog risk1–5High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; Polymaker specifies hardened steel or ruby nozzles for carbon-filled PPS and Prusa lists composites as a higher clogging risk[11][12]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a mandatory 120 °C pre-dry before every print[13]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Low (0.1–0.3 %) — 0.225 % equilibrium for Fiberon PPS-CF10 and 0.11 % for PPS-GF20[1][3]Not documented
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.225 equilibrium (Fiberon PPS-CF10); 0.11 (PPS-GF20)[1][3]0.30 in 24 h on extruded stock (ASTM D570)[14]
Effect of moisture on strengthNo dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; equilibrium uptake is 0.225 % and Polymaker specifies a 100 °C, 10 h dry[1]No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; 3DXTech mandates a 120 °C, 4 h pre-dry before every print because trapped water flashes to steam at these nozzle temperatures[13]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa59.4 ± 1.3 (PPS-CF10) and 64.1 ± 2.1 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527[1][3]52 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech); 81 at break on extruded stock (ASTM D638)[2][14]
Young's modulusMPa5446.7 ± 149.0 (PPS-CF10) and 4552.0 ± 54.6 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527[1][3]2100 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Elongation at break%1.4 ± 0.1 (PPS-CF10) and 2.0 ± 0.2 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527 — the lowest elongation in the dataset[1][3]8 (printed XY, ISO 527) against 50 on extruded stock — nearly three times PPSU's printed 3 %[2][15][14]
Flexural strengthMPaNot documented87 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Flexural modulusMPaNot documented2050 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.3 ± 0.2 printed XY for PPS-CF10 and 7.3 ± 0.2 for PPS-GF20, ISO 179 notched[1][3]Not documented
Other impact dataNot documentedIzod notched 69 J/m on extruded PSU stock, converted from 1.3 ft-lb/in (ASTM D256)[14]
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32.0 ± 5.1 (PPS-CF10) and 22.9 ± 0.8 (PPS-GF20) printed Z, ISO 527[1][3]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Very brittle — cracks or shatters easily; elongation at break 1.4 %[1]Moderate[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell 105 (and R124) on extruded unfilled PPS stock (ASTM D785); no figure is published for a fibre-filled PPS filament[16]Rockwell M120 on extruded PSU stock (ASTM D785)[14]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Excellent — holds load for years. Ensinger lists high creep resistance for unfilled PPS stock and Spectrum states creep resistance is unchanged under continuous load at high temperature; the fibre raises heat deflection to 252 °C at 0.45 MPa[16][17][1]Good. Ensinger lists high creep resistance as a headline property of extruded PSU stock, which is rated to 173 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa[14]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Rigid[2]
Z strength as % of XY%54 (PPS-CF10) and 36 (PPS-GF20), printed[1][3]Not documented
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C252.5 (PPS-CF10) and 236.3 (PPS-GF20), printed, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[1][3]172 (printed XY, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa, 3DXTech); 181 on extruded stock, converted from 358 °F at 66 psi[2][14]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C133 (PPS-CF10) and 125.8 (PPS-GF20), printed, ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[1][3]174 on extruded PSU stock, converted from 345 °F at 264 psi (ASTM D648)[14]
Glass transition (Tg)°C97.7 (PPS-CF10) and 95.0 (PPS-GF20), DSC[1][3]187 (DSC, 3DXTech) and 185 on extruded stock (ASTM D3418), against 230 for PPSU[2][15][14]
Melting point / Vicat°C279.7 (PPS-CF10) and 279.6 (PPS-GF20) melting, DSC; Vicat 267.5 and 272.5 (ISO 306)[1][3]Not documented
Continuous service temperature°C170 long-term service on extruded PPS stock, converted from 338 °F; no figure published for the carbon-filled grade[16]141 long-term service on extruded PSU stock, converted from 285 °F[14]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·KNot documented55.8 (extruded PSU stock, ASTM D696; source states 3.1e-5 in/in/°F)[14]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedUL 94 V-0 on extruded PSU stock[14]
Environment & Chemical
Chemical resistanceOutstanding — PPS resists essentially all solvents below 200 °C[11]Not documented
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (ANSI/ESD S11.11)[1][3]Surface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — an insulator (IEC 60093)[2]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised. None of these polymers was in the chamber study, and all are processed far above the temperatures it covered[18]Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised. None of these polymers was in the chamber study, and all are processed far above the temperatures it covered[18]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[18]Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[18]
Dust & fibre handling hazardFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[1]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNone — PPS does not dissolve in any known solvent below 200 °C.[19][20]Chlorinated hydrocarbons — dichloromethane, chloroform — dissolve polysulfone; ketones and esters attack it as well.[21][20]
Softened or crazed byNothing at 23 °C; Ensinger rates it only conditionally resistant to benzene, dichloromethane, toluene and pyridine.[20]Acetone, MEK, ethyl acetate, benzene and toluene craze or stress-crack it; methanol and isopropanol only marginally.[20][21]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — no solvent welds or smooths PPS.[19]Dichloromethane cement welds PSU and NMP softens residual resin. Both are laboratory reagents.[21]

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 PPS-CF10 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-07 · tds
  2. ThermaX PSU Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Fiberon PPS-GF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-07 · tds
  4. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Bambu Lab PPS-CF Black, spool (750 g) 3DJAKE · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. 3D4Makers product catalogue 3D4Makers · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. IEMAI 3D CF-PPS 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Prusament PEI 1010 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-09 · tds
  10. Prusament PEI 1010 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  11. PPS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  13. THERMAX PSU — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  14. TECASON S natural (PSU) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  15. ThermaX PPSU Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  16. TECATRON natural (PPS) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  17. Spectrum PPS AM230 Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2022-04 · tds
  18. 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
  19. PPS (Polyphenylene sulfide) — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  20. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  21. Radel PPSU, Veradel PESU, Acudel modified PPSU Design Guide — environmental stress cracking tables Solvay Specialty Polymers · 2026-08 · tds