3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PPSU vs PVA

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

PPSU guidePVA (soluble support) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PPSU comparisonsMore PVA comparisons
PPSU vs PVA — documented properties and sources
PropertyPPSUHIGHTEMPPVA (soluble support)SUPPORT
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$337.40/kg median; $223.00–$732.56/kg across 4 dated product listings$65.98/kg median; $42.00–$96.00/kg across 5 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyphenylsulfone — an amorphous high-temperature sulfone polymer[1]Polyvinyl alcohol — a water-soluble support polymer[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.28 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech; ASTM D792, Stratasys PPSF)[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 223–733; the middle of the market is about 425[5][6][7][8]1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–96; the middle of the market is about 66[5][9][10][11]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg223-733 across brands; IEMAI 3D 223 at 1 kg, 3DXTech ThermaX PPSU 250 at 500 g, 3D4Makers 425 at 750 g, Kimya PPSU-S 733 at 500 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[5][9][10][12][11]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[5][6][7]Stocked by most mainstream brands[5][9][10][12][11]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 200 g to 750 g spools[5][6][7]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 0.75 kg spools[5][9]
Typical applicationsSteam-sterilisable medical and dental tooling, and aircraft interior parts[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°C130–150 (3DXTech)[1]25–60 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Actively heated chamber required[13][14]Open frame is fine[3]
Part cooling fanNot documentedPart cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[15]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedPEI sheet or painter's tape[15]
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]
Warping tendency1–5Severe — heated chamber needed[13]Not documented
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedSticks to most surfaces[15]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed[15]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[13][14]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; PVA is unusable once it has taken up moisture[16][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 required1–4Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades, but brass softens near these nozzle temperatures — hardened or plated hot ends are the norm[13]Brass fine indefinitely[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive when unfilled[1]Non-abrasive[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a mandatory 120 °C pre-dry before every print[17]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet PVA foams and carbonises in the nozzle[16]
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[15]
Hotend requirementNot documentedNo special hot-end required, but the nozzle must not be parked hot[15]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedVery high (>2 %) — Polymaker measures 10.21 % equilibrium water absorption, by far the highest in the dataset[3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.37 in 24 h and 1.1 at saturation on extruded stock (ASTM D570)[18]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[16]
Effect of moisture on strengthNo 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[17]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 requirementNot documentedSealed with desiccant at all times; PVA takes up water faster than any other filament here[16][3]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa55 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech) and 55 (printed on side long edge, ASTM D638, Stratasys PPSF); 79 at yield on extruded stock[1][4][18]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa2100 (printed, ASTM D638, Stratasys PPSF) and 2310 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech); 2344 on extruded stock[1][4][18]Not documented
Elongation at break%3 (printed, ISO 527 and ASTM D638) against 60 on extruded stock — printing costs PPSU almost all of its ductility[1][4][18]Not documented
Flexural strengthMPa110 (printed, ISO 178 and ASTM D790, 3DXTech and Stratasys PPSF agree); 91 on extruded stock[1][4][18]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa2200 (printed, ASTM D790, Stratasys PPSF) and 2215 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech)[1][4]Not documented
Other impact dataIzod notched 58.7 J/m and unnotched 165.5 J/m (printed, ASTM D256 Method A, Stratasys PPSF); 160 J/m notched on extruded stock[4][18]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[1]Not documented
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell M86 on printed PPSF (ASTM D785, Stratasys); M96 on extruded PPSU stock (and an unlabelled 123)[4][18]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good. Printed PPSF holds 189 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa (ASTM D648) and extruded stock is rated 149 °C long-term service, but Ensinger does not claim the creep resistance it claims for PSU and PPS[4][18]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
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°C190 (printed XY, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa, 3DXTech)[1]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C189 (printed, ASTM D648 at 264 psi, Stratasys PPSF); 207 on extruded stock, converted from 405 °F[4][18]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C230 (DSC) — the highest glass transition in the dataset[1]60 (3DXTech AquaTek, DSC)[2]
Continuous service temperature°C149 long-term service on extruded PPSU stock, converted from 300 °F[18]Bounded by a glass transition of 60 °C[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K55.0 (printed PPSF, ASTM D696; source states 5.5e-5 mm/mm/°C) and 55.8 on extruded stock (ASTM D696, from 3.1e-5 in/in/°F)[4][18]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm, rated on the base resin[1]Flammable; 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 resistanceWithstands repeated steam autoclaving, the usual reason to choose PPSU over PSU; Stratasys also lists PPSF as passing 24 h stress-crack exposure to antifreeze, petrol, motor oil, power-steering, transmission and washer fluid at 23 °C and 100 °C[1][4]Dissolves in water; unusable in any wet or humid service environment[3][15]
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[15]
RecyclabilityNot documentedDissolved PVA goes to drain rather than to recycling[15]
Electrical & ESD propertiesVolume resistivity 5e13 to 1.5e14 ohm-cm and dielectric strength 80-290 V/mil on printed PPSF (ASTM D257, D149)[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]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedNot sanded — it is dissolved away rather than finished[15]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedNot applicable — PVA is a sacrificial support[15]
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 inDichloromethane dissolves it at 23 °C at every stress level; acetone solvates and softens unstressed PPSU (Solvay ESCR).[20]Water — tap water works cold, warm moving water is faster; 6–12 h typical, changing the water every few hours.[21][22]
Softened or crazed byMEK ruptures stressed parts and toluene crazes them above 13.8 MPa; glass-filled grades survive where unfilled craze.[20]Nothing else: polyvinyl alcohol resists organic solvents, so an IPA or acetone rinse leaves the support intact.[23]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cements PPSU and NMP softens residual resin; both are laboratory reagents, not workshop stock.[20]None — water dissolves PVA rather than welding it, and no solvent gives it a smoothed surface.[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. ThermaX PPSU Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · 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. PPSF (polyphenylsulfone) — FDM Data Sheet Stratasys · 2018-06 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Kimya PPSU-S Natural 1.75 mm 500 g igo3d · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. 3D4Makers product catalogue 3D4Makers · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. IEMAI 3D PPSU 3D Printing Filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 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. Prusament PEI 1010 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-09 · tds
  14. Prusament PEI 1010 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  15. PVA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  16. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  17. THERMAX PPSU — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  18. TECASON P black (PPSU) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · 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. Radel PPSU, Veradel PESU, Acudel modified PPSU Design Guide — environmental stress cracking tables Solvay Specialty Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  21. PolyDissolve S1 — Polymaker Wiki Polymaker · 2026-08 · doc
  22. 3DXTech AquaTek PVA product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  23. Polyvinyl alcohol — KURARAY POVAL application guide Kuraray · 2026-08 · tds