3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PSU vs PVA

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

PSU guidePVA (soluble support) guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PSU comparisonsMore PVA comparisons
PSU vs PVA — documented properties and sources
PropertyPSUHIGHTEMPPVA (soluble support)SUPPORT
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$168.00/kg median; $168.00–$168.00/kg across 1 dated product listings$65.98/kg median; $42.00–$96.00/kg across 5 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolysulfone — the lowest-temperature and cheapest of the sulfone family[1]Polyvinyl alcohol — a water-soluble support polymer[2][3]
Densityg/cm³1.24 (ISO 1183)[1]0.6–0.9 (3DXTech AquaTek, ISO 1183) and 1.13 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[2][3]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 250[4]1 kg-equivalent spools span 42–96; the middle of the market is about 66[4][5][6][7]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg168-250 across formats; 250 g spool $42 (168/kg), 500 g $125 (250/kg) — 3DXTech is the only filament supplier found[4]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[4][5][6][8][7]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[4]Stocked by most mainstream brands[4][5][6][8][7]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 250 g and 500 g spools[4]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 0.75 kg spools[4][5]
Typical applicationsTransparent high-temperature housings, medical trays and hot-water fittings[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°C120–140 (3DXTech)[1]25–60 (Polymaker PolyDissolve S1)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Actively heated chamber required[9][10]Open frame is fine[3]
Part cooling fanNot documentedPart cooling fan required (Simplify3D)[11]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedPEI sheet or painter's tape[11]
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[11]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedModerate — retraction tuning needed[11]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[9][10]Intermediate — dry filament and a tuned profile; PVA is unusable once it has taken up moisture[12][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[9]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[13]Very high — frequent jams without careful setup; wet PVA foams and carbonises in the nozzle[12]
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[11]
Hotend requirementNot documentedNo special hot-end required, but the nozzle must not be parked hot[11]
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%0.30 in 24 h on extruded stock (ASTM D570)[14]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[12]
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[13]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[12]
Storage requirementNot documentedSealed with desiccant at all times; PVA takes up water faster than any other filament here[12][3]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa52 (printed XY, ISO 527, 3DXTech); 81 at break on extruded stock (ASTM D638)[1][14]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa2100 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]Not documented
Elongation at break%8 (printed XY, ISO 527) against 50 on extruded stock — nearly three times PPSU's printed 3 %[1][15][14]Not documented
Flexural strengthMPa87 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa2050 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]Not documented
Other impact dataIzod notched 69 J/m on extruded PSU stock, converted from 1.3 ft-lb/in (ASTM D256)[14]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Moderate[1]Not documented
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell M120 on extruded PSU stock (ASTM D785)[14]Not documented
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Good. 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]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°C172 (printed XY, ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa, 3DXTech); 181 on extruded stock, converted from 358 °F at 66 psi[1][14]Not documented
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C174 on extruded PSU stock, converted from 345 °F at 264 psi (ASTM D648)[14]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C187 (DSC, 3DXTech) and 185 on extruded stock (ASTM D3418), against 230 for PPSU[1][15][14]60 (3DXTech AquaTek, DSC)[2]
Continuous service temperature°C141 long-term service on extruded PSU stock, converted from 285 °F[14]Bounded by a glass transition of 60 °C[2]
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K55.8 (extruded PSU stock, ASTM D696; source states 3.1e-5 in/in/°F)[14]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 on extruded PSU stock[14]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 resistanceNot documentedDissolves in water; unusable in any wet or humid service environment[3][11]
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[11]
RecyclabilityNot documentedDissolved PVA goes to drain rather than to recycling[11]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — an insulator (IEC 60093)[1]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[16]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[16]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Ventilated room or enclosure recommended[16]Open a window / occasional ventilation[16]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedNot sanded — it is dissolved away rather than finished[11]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedNot applicable — PVA is a sacrificial support[11]
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 inChlorinated hydrocarbons — dichloromethane, chloroform — dissolve polysulfone; ketones and esters attack it as well.[17][18]Water — tap water works cold, warm moving water is faster; 6–12 h typical, changing the water every few hours.[19][20]
Softened or crazed byAcetone, MEK, ethyl acetate, benzene and toluene craze or stress-crack it; methanol and isopropanol only marginally.[18][17]Nothing else: polyvinyl alcohol resists organic solvents, so an IPA or acetone rinse leaves the support intact.[21]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cement welds PSU and NMP softens residual resin. Both are laboratory reagents.[17]None — water dissolves PVA rather than welding it, and no solvent gives it a smoothed surface.[19]

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 PSU 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. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  5. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. YXPOLYER PVA 1 kg — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. IEMAI 3D E-WATER water-soluble support filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Reli3D PVA Filament 1.75 mm 500 g Natural — Amazon listing Amazon.com · 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. PVA — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 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. 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
  17. Radel PPSU, Veradel PESU, Acudel modified PPSU Design Guide — environmental stress cracking tables Solvay Specialty Polymers · 2026-08 · tds
  18. Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  19. PolyDissolve S1 — Polymaker Wiki Polymaker · 2026-08 · doc
  20. 3DXTech AquaTek PVA product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  21. Polyvinyl alcohol — KURARAY POVAL application guide Kuraray · 2026-08 · tds