3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PPSU vs PVDF

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

PPSU guidePVDF guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PPSU comparisonsMore PVDF comparisons
PPSU vs PVDF — documented properties and sources
PropertyPPSUHIGHTEMPPVDFENGINEERING
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$337.40/kg median; $223.00–$732.56/kg across 4 dated product listings$250.67/kg median; $250.67–$250.67/kg across 1 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyphenylsulfone — an amorphous high-temperature sulfone polymer[1]Polyvinylidene fluoride — a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.28 (ISO 1183, 3DXTech; ASTM D792, Stratasys PPSF)[1][4]1.71 (ISO 1183) — the densest unfilled filament in the dataset[2]
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 cluster near 251[5]
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]251 at 3DXTech's 750 g pricing — the most expensive material in the whole dataset[5]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[5][6][7]Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[5][9]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 200 g to 750 g spools[5][6][7]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools[5]
Typical applicationsSteam-sterilisable medical and dental tooling, and aircraft interior parts[1]Chemical-plant fittings, semiconductor handling and parts needing outstanding UV and chemical resistance[2]
Printing Parameters
Bed temperature°C130–150 (3DXTech)[1]70–110 (3DXTech FluorX)[2]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Actively heated chamber required[10][11]Enclosure required (passive)[2]
Warping tendency1–5Severe — heated chamber needed[10]High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts[2]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[10][11]Expert / industrial hardware only[2][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[10]Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[2]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive when unfilled[1]Non-abrasive when unfilled[2]
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[12]Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns, no minimum layer height and states drying is not required[9]
Other hardware wearNot documentedHydrogen fluoride released on overheating is extremely corrosive and will attack hotend and enclosure metalwork as well as people[3]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedNegligible (<0.1 % EMC) — fluoropolymers are essentially non-hygroscopic[2]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%0.37 in 24 h and 1.1 at saturation on extruded stock (ASTM D570)[13]Not documented
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[12]Not applicable in practice — 3DXTech states drying is not required for PVDF, so there is no moisture-driven strength loss to measure[9]
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][13]51 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Young's modulusMPa2100 (printed, ASTM D638, Stratasys PPSF) and 2310 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech); 2344 on extruded stock[1][4][13]2450 (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
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][13]25 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[2]
Flexural strengthMPa110 (printed, ISO 178 and ASTM D790, 3DXTech and Stratasys PPSF agree); 91 on extruded stock[1][4][13]50 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
Flexural modulusMPa2200 (printed, ASTM D790, Stratasys PPSF) and 2215 (printed XY, ISO 178, 3DXTech)[1][4]1800 (printed XY, ISO 178)[2]
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][13]Izod 133 J/m on extruded PVDF stock, converted from 2.49 ft-lb/in (ASTM D256)[14]
Brittleness1–5Brittle — snaps with little warning[1]Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[2]
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][13]Rockwell M79 on extruded PVDF stock (ASTM D785)[14]
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][13]Not documented
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rigid[1]Slightly flexible in thin sections[2]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C190 (printed XY, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa, 3DXTech)[1]149 on extruded PVDF stock (ASTM D648 at 66 psi; converted from 300 °F)[14]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C189 (printed, ASTM D648 at 264 psi, Stratasys PPSF); 207 on extruded stock, converted from 405 °F[4][13]113 on extruded PVDF stock (ASTM D648 at 264 psi; converted from 235 °F)[14]
Glass transition (Tg)°C230 (DSC) — the highest glass transition in the dataset[1]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented170 melting (ISO 11357)[2]
Continuous service temperature°C149 long-term service on extruded PPSU stock, converted from 300 °F[13]149 long term and short term on extruded PVDF stock (converted from 300 °F)[14]
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][13]127.8 (extruded PVDF stock, ASTM D696; source states 7.1e-5 in/in/°F) — the highest thermal expansion of any engineering polymer in this dataset[14]
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm, rated on the base resin[1]UL 94 V-0 on extruded PVDF stock; Ensinger lists inherent flame resistance[14]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedExcellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Ensinger lists good UV and weather resistance and high gamma radiation resistance for PVDF stock[2][14]
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]Outstanding — resistant to most acids, solvents and oxidising agents, which is the reason to use it[2]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Not documentedExcellent — essentially unaffected[2]
Electrical & ESD propertiesVolume resistivity 5e13 to 1.5e14 ohm-cm and dielectric strength 80-290 V/mil on printed PPSF (ASTM D257, D149)[4]Not documented
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[15]Very high — toxic decomposition products; local exhaust mandatory. Above 315 °C thermal decomposition yields hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide[3]
Hazardous species emittedNot documentedAbove 315 °C: hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen cyanide, phenols, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and dense smoke. HF is extremely corrosive, its skin burns may not be immediately visible or painful, and exposure can be fatal by skin absorption, inhalation or ingestion[3]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[15]Local exhaust to outside / fume hood — the SDS states local exhaust is preferred[3]
Dust & fibre handling hazardNot documentedMolten polymer causes thermal burns and must not be pulled off the skin. If HF is detected during a decomposition event, cut the heat but keep the extraction running, ventilate, and clear non-essential people from the area[3]
Post-Processing
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedThe processing window sits well below the 315 °C decomposition threshold, so nozzle temperature must be controlled rather than raised to chase flow[2][3]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inDichloromethane dissolves it at 23 °C at every stress level; acetone solvates and softens unstressed PPSU (Solvay ESCR).[16]THF, MEK, DMF, DMAc, NMP, DMSO and trimethyl phosphate dissolve 5–10 wt% at ambient — Arkema's active solvents, all lab reagents.[17]
Softened or crazed byMEK ruptures stressed parts and toluene crazes them above 13.8 MPa; glass-filled grades survive where unfilled craze.[16]Acetone, MIBK, cyclohexanone, butyl acetate and glycol ethers swell it; alkalis above pH 12 attack the homopolymer.[17][18]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cements PPSU and NMP softens residual resin; both are laboratory reagents, not workshop stock.[16]None for the workshop — the active solvents (NMP, DMAc, DMF) are laboratory reagents used for casting membranes, not joints.[17]

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. FluorX PVDF Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. FluorX PVDF Safety Data Sheet v1.1 3DXTech · 2026-08 · msds
  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. FluorX PVDF — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Prusament PEI 1010 Technical Datasheet v1.0 Prusa Polymers · 2024-09 · tds
  11. Prusament PEI 1010 — material page Prusa Polymers · 2026-08 · doc
  12. THERMAX PPSU — product page (print recommendations) 3DXTech · 2026-08 · doc
  13. TECASON P black (PPSU) — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  14. TECAFLON PVDF natural — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  15. 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
  16. Radel PPSU, Veradel PESU, Acudel modified PPSU Design Guide — environmental stress cracking tables Solvay Specialty Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  17. Kynar PVDF — Design properties: solubility and irradiation (active and latent solvents) Arkema · 2026-08 · tds
  18. Kynar PVDF resin — chemical and fuel resistance Arkema · 2026-08 · tds