3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PPS-CF vs PVA

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

Fibre-reinforced PPS guidePVA (soluble support) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PPS-CF comparisonsMore PVA comparisons
PPS-CF vs PVA — documented properties and sources
PropertyFibre-reinforced PPSHIGHTEMPPVA (soluble support)SUPPORT
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$139.98/kg median; $119.98–$174.17/kg across 5 dated product listings$65.98/kg median; $42.00–$96.00/kg across 5 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryCarbon-fibre reinforced PPS — Polymaker's Fiberon grade is nominally 10 wt%[1]Polyvinyl alcohol — a water-soluble support polymer[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.29 (Fiberon PPS-CF10) and 1.36 (Fiberon PPS-GF20), ISO 1183[1][4]0.6–0.9 (3DXTech AquaTek, ISO 1183) and 1.13 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools span 93–174; the middle of the market is about 140[5][6][7][8]1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–96; the middle of the market is about 66[9][5][10][11]
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[5][6][7][8]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[9][5][10][12][11]
Market availability1–5Available from several mainstream brands[5][6][7]Stocked by most mainstream brands[9][5][10][12][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.5 kg spools[5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 0.75 kg spools[9][5]
Typical applicationsChemical and automotive parts needing PPS chemistry with structural stiffness[1]Dissolvable support for PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG — Polymaker names those four for PolyDissolve S1[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented215–225 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[3]
Bed temperature°CNot documented25–60 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker states its Fiberon PPS-CF10 needs no heated chamber, unlike the unfilled sulfones and PAEKs[1]Open frame is fine[3]
Part cooling fanNot documentedPart cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[13]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedPEI sheet or painter's tape[13]
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[3]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedSticks to most surfaces[13]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed[13]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[1]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; PVA is unusable once it has taken up moisture[14][3]
Extruder requirementNot documentedA second extruder or a tool changer; PVA is a support material, not a model material[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Hardened steel required[1]Brass fine indefinitely[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Highly abrasive — standard CF composite[1]Non-abrasive[3]
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[15][16]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet PVA foams and carbonises in the nozzle[14]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedHigh — all-metal hotend and strong cooling needed; Simplify3D warns PVA clogs if the nozzle is left hot while not extruding[13]
Hotend requirementNot documentedNo special hot-end required, but the nozzle must not be parked hot[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][4]Very high (>2 %) — Polymaker measures 10.21 % equilibrium water absorption, by far the highest in the dataset[3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.225 equilibrium (Fiberon PPS-CF10); 0.11 (PPS-GF20)[1][4]10.21 equilibrium water absorption (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[3]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface; with PVA this progresses to clogging[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]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[14]
Storage requirementNot documentedSealed with desiccant at all times; PVA takes up water faster than any other filament here[14][3]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa59.4 ± 1.3 (PPS-CF10) and 64.1 ± 2.1 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527[1][4]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa5446.7 ± 149.0 (PPS-CF10) and 4552.0 ± 54.6 (PPS-GF20) printed XY, ISO 527[1][4]Not documented
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][4]Not documented
Charpy impact, notchedkJ/m²5.3 ± 0.2 printed XY for PPS-CF10 and 7.3 ± 0.2 for PPS-GF20, ISO 179 notched[1][4]Not documented
Layer adhesion / Z tensileMPa32.0 ± 5.1 (PPS-CF10) and 22.9 ± 0.8 (PPS-GF20) printed Z, ISO 527[1][4]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Very brittle — cracks or shatters easily; elongation at break 1.4 %[1]Not documented
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[17]Not documented
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[17][18][1]Poor — deforms under load at room temperature; PVA is not used structurally[2]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedPoor — fails after a few cycles[2]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Not documented
Z strength as % of XY%54 (PPS-CF10) and 36 (PPS-GF20), printed[1][4]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[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C252.5 (PPS-CF10) and 236.3 (PPS-GF20), printed, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa[1][4]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C133 (PPS-CF10) and 125.8 (PPS-GF20), printed, ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa[1][4]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C97.7 (PPS-CF10) and 95.0 (PPS-GF20), DSC[1][4]60 (3DXTech AquaTek, DSC)[2]
Melting point / Vicat°C279.7 (PPS-CF10) and 279.6 (PPS-GF20) melting, DSC; Vicat 267.5 and 272.5 (ISO 306)[1][4]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[17]Bounded by a glass transition of 60 °C[2]
Flammability / UL 94Not documentedFlammable; no UL 94 rating published[2]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedDegrades within weeks outdoors, and dissolves in rain long before UV matters[3]
Chemical resistanceOutstanding — PPS resists essentially all solvents below 200 °C[15]Dissolves in water; unusable in any wet or humid service environment[3][13]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedDissolves or disintegrates — by design[3][2]
Food contactNot documentedNot offered as a food-contact material[2]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot documentedPVA is water-soluble and biodegrades in wastewater treatment, but Simplify3D notes disposal should follow local guidance[13]
RecyclabilityNot documentedDissolved PVA goes to drain rather than to recycling[13]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistivity above 10¹² ohm — insulating (ANSI/ESD S11.11)[1][4]Surface resistance above 10^13 ohm/sq (ASTM D257, 3DXTech AquaTek PVA)[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[19]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[19]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[19]Open a window / occasional ventilation[19]
Dust & fibre handling hazardFibre is bound in the matrix; sanding dust should not be inhaled[1]Not documented
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedNot sanded — it is dissolved away rather than finished[13]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedNot applicable — PVA is a sacrificial support[13]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedWater is the solvent; no vapour smoothing is used[3]
Support material pairingNot documentedThis is the support material; Polymaker pairs PolyDissolve S1 with PLA, TPU, PVB and PETG[3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inNone — PPS does not dissolve in any known solvent below 200 °C.[20][21]Water — tap water works cold, warm moving water is faster; 6–12 h typical, changing the water every few hours.[22][23]
Softened or crazed byNothing at 23 °C; Ensinger rates it only conditionally resistant to benzene, dichloromethane, toluene and pyridine.[21]Nothing else: polyvinyl alcohol resists organic solvents, so an IPA or acetone rinse leaves the support intact.[24]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — no solvent welds or smooths PPS.[20]None — water dissolves PVA rather than welding it, and no solvent gives it a smoothed surface.[22]

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. AquaTek PVA Water Soluble Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. PolyDissolve S1 Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  4. Fiberon PPS-GF20 Technical Data Sheet V1.1 Polymaker · 2025-07 · tds
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Bambu Lab PPS-CF Black, spool (750 g) 3DJAKE · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3D4Makers product catalogue 3D4Makers · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. IEMAI 3D CF-PPS 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  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. PVA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  14. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  15. PPS — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Composite materials filled with carbon, kevlar or glass Prusa Knowledge Base · 2026-08 · doc
  17. TECATRON natural (PPS) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  18. Spectrum PPS AM230 Technical Data Sheet Spectrum Filaments · 2022-04 · tds
  19. 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
  20. PPS (Polyphenylene sulfide) — Knowledge Base Prusa Research · 2026-08 · doc
  21. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  22. PolyDissolve S1 — Polymaker Wiki Polymaker · 2026-08 · doc
  23. 3DXTech AquaTek PVA product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  24. Polyvinyl alcohol — KURARAY POVAL application guide Kuraray · 2026-08 · tds