3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

PVDF vs Breakaway

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

PVDF guideBreak-away support guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore PVDF comparisonsMore Breakaway comparisons
PVDF vs Breakaway — documented properties and sources
PropertyPVDFENGINEERINGBreak-away supportSUPPORT
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$250.67/kg median; $250.67–$250.67/kg across 1 dated product listings$42.49/kg median; $26.00–$79.98/kg across 4 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryPolyvinylidene fluoride — a semi-crystalline fluoropolymer[1][2]Break-away support compounds matched to a specific model material — Polymaker sells separate grades for PLA and for PA12[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.71 (ISO 1183) — the densest unfilled filament in the dataset[1]1.22 (PolySupport for PLA) and 1.29 (PolySupport for PA12), ISO 1183[3][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 251[5]1 kg-equivalent spools span 26–80; the middle of the market is about 45[6][7][8]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg251 at 3DXTech's 750 g pricing — the most expensive material in the whole dataset[5]26–80 across brands and grades; IEMAI 3D E-REMOVE 26, Polymaker PolySupport for PLA 40 at 750 g, YXPOLYER 45, PolySupport for PA12 80 at 500 g[6][7][8]
Market availability1–5Special order, 1–2 makers worldwide[5][9]Available from several mainstream brands[6][5]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 750 g spools[5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 0.75 kg spools[6]
Typical applicationsChemical-plant fittings, semiconductor handling and parts needing outstanding UV and chemical resistance[1]Support that peels off by hand, avoiding the moisture handling and dissolution time that soluble supports demand[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented220–230 (PolySupport for PLA)[3]
Bed temperature°C70–110 (3DXTech FluorX)[1]25–60 (PolySupport for PLA)[3]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Enclosure required (passive)[1]Open frame is fine[3]
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 tendency1–5High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts[1]Not documented
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[1][2]Easy — minor profile tuning[3]
Extruder requirementNot documentedA second extruder or a tool changer[3]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely for unfilled grades[1]Brass fine indefinitely[3]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive when unfilled[1]Non-abrasive[3]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns, no minimum layer height and states drying is not required[9]Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; Polymaker specifies a 55 °C dry for the PLA grade and warns brass nozzle life falls to about 9 h on the PA12 grade[3][4]
Other hardware wearHydrogen fluoride released on overheating is extremely corrosive and will attack hotend and enclosure metalwork as well as people[2]Not documented
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Negligible (<0.1 % EMC) — fluoropolymers are essentially non-hygroscopic[1]Moderate — 0.64 % equilibrium water absorption (PolySupport for PLA)[3]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.64 equilibrium water absorption (Polymaker PolySupport for PLA)[3]
Effect of moisture on strengthNot applicable in practice — 3DXTech states drying is not required for PVDF, so there is no moisture-driven strength loss to measure[9]Not a structural material; no dry-versus-conditioned data is published[10]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPa51 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]Not documented
Young's modulusMPa2450 (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]Not documented
Elongation at break%25 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)[1]Not documented
Flexural strengthMPa50 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]Not documented
Flexural modulusMPa1800 (printed XY, ISO 178)[1]Not documented
Other impact dataIzod 133 J/m on extruded PVDF stock, converted from 2.49 ft-lb/in (ASTM D256)[11]Not documented
Brittleness1–5Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking[1]Not documented
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellRockwell M79 on extruded PVDF stock (ASTM D785)[11]Not documented
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Slightly flexible in thin sections[1]Not documented
Thermal Properties
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C149 on extruded PVDF stock (ASTM D648 at 66 psi; converted from 300 °F)[11]43 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa, PolySupport for PA12). Polymaker's sheet prints a higher figure at the higher load, which is physically inverted; treat both HDT numbers as approximate[4]
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C113 on extruded PVDF stock (ASTM D648 at 264 psi; converted from 235 °F)[11]53 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa, PolySupport for PA12) — printed above the 0.45 MPa figure on Polymaker's own sheet, which cannot be right; treat both as approximate[4]
Melting point / Vicat°C170 melting (ISO 11357)[1]Vicat 171 (PolySupport for PA12, ISO 306)[4]
Continuous service temperature°C149 long term and short term on extruded PVDF stock (converted from 300 °F)[11]Not documented
Thermal expansion (CTE)µm/m·K127.8 (extruded PVDF stock, ASTM D696; source states 7.1e-5 in/in/°F) — the highest thermal expansion of any engineering polymer in this dataset[11]Not documented
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 on extruded PVDF stock; Ensinger lists inherent flame resistance[11]Not documented
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Excellent — designed for permanent outdoor use; Ensinger lists good UV and weather resistance and high gamma radiation resistance for PVDF stock[1][11]Not documented
Chemical resistanceOutstanding — resistant to most acids, solvents and oxidising agents, which is the reason to use it[1]Not documented
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Excellent — essentially unaffected[1]Not documented
Electrical & ESD propertiesNot documentedSurface resistance above 10^13 ohm/sq (ASTM D257, THERMAX HTS2 and MTS1)[12][13]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Very high — toxic decomposition products; local exhaust mandatory. Above 315 °C thermal decomposition yields hydrofluoric acid, hydrogen cyanide and carbon monoxide[2]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[14]
Hazardous species emittedAbove 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[2]Not documented
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Local exhaust to outside / fume hood — the SDS states local exhaust is preferred[2]Open a window / occasional ventilation[14]
Dust & fibre handling hazardMolten 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[2]Not documented
Post-Processing
Support material pairingNot documentedThis is the support material. Polymaker publishes an adhesion matrix per model material, from very good to unusable, because break-away supports only work against the polymer they were matched to[3][4]
Dimensional accuracy & detailThe processing window sits well below the 315 °C decomposition threshold, so nozzle temperature must be controlled rather than raised to chase flow[1][2]Not documented
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inTHF, MEK, DMF, DMAc, NMP, DMSO and trimethyl phosphate dissolve 5–10 wt% at ambient — Arkema's active solvents, all lab reagents.[15]None — break-away support is removed mechanically; 3DXTech lists no water or solvent route for it.[16]
Softened or crazed byAcetone, MIBK, cyclohexanone, butyl acetate and glycol ethers swell it; alkalis above pH 12 attack the homopolymer.[15][17]Not documented
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone for the workshop — the active solvents (NMP, DMAc, DMF) are laboratory reagents used for casting membranes, not joints.[15]None — there is no solvent to weld or smooth with.[16]

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. FluorX PVDF Technical Data Sheet v3 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. FluorX PVDF Safety Data Sheet v1.1 3DXTech · 2026-08 · msds
  3. PolySupport Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  4. PolySupport for PA12 Technical Data Sheet V5.4 Polymaker · 2024-11 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Polymaker product catalogue Polymaker · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. YXPOLYER Breakaway Support Filament 1 kg Black — product page YXPOLYER · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. IEMAI 3D E-REMOVE breakaway support filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. FluorX PVDF — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. TECAFLON PVDF natural — stock shape properties Ensinger · 2026-08 · tds
  12. THERMAX HTS2 Break Away Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  13. THERMAX MTS1 Break Away Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  14. 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
  15. Kynar PVDF — Design properties: solubility and irradiation (active and latent solvents) Arkema · 2026-08 · tds
  16. THERMAX HTS1 — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  17. Kynar PVDF resin — chemical and fuel resistance Arkema · 2026-08 · tds