3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

HT soluble vs TPU 98A

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

High-temperature support guideTPU 98A / hard TPU guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore HT soluble comparisonsMore TPU 98A comparisons
HT soluble vs TPU 98A — documented properties and sources
PropertyHigh-temperature supportSUPPORTTPU 98A / hard TPUFLEX
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$209.00/kg median; $100.00–$290.00/kg across 4 dated product listings$94.99/kg median; $34.99–$149.99/kg across 3 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryBreak-away support compounded to survive high-temperature print chambers; 3DXTech sells separate grades for PC/ABS and for the PAEK and PEI class[1][2]Hard thermoplastic polyurethane at 98 Shore A to about 60 Shore D — the rigid end of the TPU range[3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.37 (3DXTech THERMAX HTS1, ISO 1183)[1]1.23 (Fillamentum Flexfill 98A); 1.2 (Extrudr FLEX HARD, ISO 2781)[3][4]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 168[5]1 kg spools cluster near 150[6]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg100–290 across grades; 3DXTech THERMAX MTS1 100 at 2 kg, HTS2 168 at 250 g, HTS1 250 at 500 g, IEMAI 3D HT-SP 290 at 1 kg[5][7]95–150 across brands; Proto-pasta Clear Rigid TPU 95, Push Plastic TPU 100A 150[8][6]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[5][7]Available from several mainstream brands[6][8][4]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 250 g, 500 g, 1 kg and 2 kg spools[5]1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75 and 1 kg spools[8][6]
Typical applicationsSupport for PEEK, PEI and PC-class prints, where PVA and PLA-based supports would decompose[1][2]Drive belts, wheels, snap-fits and bumpers that need to flex but hold shape under load[3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°CNot documented230–260 (Extrudr FLEX HARD)[4]
Bed temperature°CNot documented50–90 (Extrudr FLEX HARD)[4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Actively heated chamber required — it is used inside high-temperature builds[1]Open frame is fine[4]
Part cooling fanNot documented0–30 % (Extrudr FLEX HARD)[4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidNot documentedPEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[9][10]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/sNot documented4.6 (Extrudr FLEX HARD, stated max volumetric speed on a 0.4 mm nozzle)[4]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedNone[4]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Expert / industrial hardware only[1]Easy — minor profile tuning; at this hardness the filament pushes like a rigid material[4]
Extruder requirementA dual-extruder machine rated for high-temperature materials; 3DXTech states the grade is intended for dual-extruder printers designed to print high-temp materials[11]Bowden viable at this hardness — Extrudr rates FLEX HARD to 100 mm/s where its soft grades cap lower[4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[1]Brass fine indefinitely[4]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[1]Non-abrasive[4]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a mandatory 120 °C pre-dry for HTS1 and 80 °C for MTS1[11][12]Low[13]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedModerate — good heatbreak cooling needed[10]
Hotend requirementNot documentedNo special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[9]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Not documentedModerate — the TPU family absorbs readily; Extrudr specifies a 12 h dry at 60 °C for FLEX HARD[4][13]
Drying temperature & timeNot documented60 °C for 12 h (Extrudr FLEX HARD)[4]
Symptoms when wetNot documentedBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[13]
Effect of moisture on strengthNo dry-versus-conditioned figures are published; 3DXTech mandates a 120 °C, 4 h pre-dry for HTS1 and 80 °C for MTS1 because trapped water flashes to steam at these nozzle temperatures[11][12]Polymaker groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials; no dry-versus-conditioned figures are published[13]
Storage requirementNot documentedSealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[13]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented53.7 at break (Fillamentum Flexfill 98A, DIN 53504)[3]
Elongation at break%Not documented318 at break (Fillamentum Flexfill 98A, DIN 53504); Extrudr FLEX HARD 490 (ISO 527-2)[3][4]
Brittleness1–5Not documentedVery ductile — bends far before failing[3]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / RockwellNot documented98 Shore A and 60 Shore D (Fillamentum, ISO 7619-1); Extrudr FLEX HARD 58 Shore D (ISO 868)[3][4]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Not documentedPoor — no 98A creep test; a printed 95A TPU bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[14]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Not documentedExcellent — living hinges viable[10]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Not documentedSemi-flexible[3][4]
Wear resistance & friction3DXTech marks tensile strength, modulus and elongation as not applicable for its support grades — they are not characterised as structural materials[1]Abrasion 23 mm³ (Fillamentum, ISO 4649 method A) and 26 mm³ (Extrudr FLEX HARD, ISO 4649-A) — the best abrasion figures in the group[3][4]
Thermal Properties
HDT at 1.8 MPa°C205 (THERMAX HTS1, printed XY, ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa)[1]Not documented
Glass transition (Tg)°C225 (3DXTech THERMAX HTS1, DSC) — high enough to stay solid inside a PEI or PEEK build[1]Not documented
Melting point / Vicat°CNot documented190–210 melting (Extrudr FLEX HARD, ISO 3146-C); Vicat A 140 (ISO 306)[4]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Not documentedGood — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[10]
Chemical resistanceNot documentedWithstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[10]
Food contactNot documentedNot food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[10]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot documentedNot biodegradable[10]
RecyclabilityNot documentedNot accepted in household plastic collection[10]
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10^13 ohm/sq on all three THERMAX support grades (ASTM D257) — insulating[1][15][2]Not documented
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; none of these materials was in the chamber study[16]Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments in the chamber study[16]
Ventilation / filtration requirement1–5Open a window / occasional ventilation[16]Open a window / occasional ventilation[16]
Post-Processing
Sanding & machiningNot documentedDifficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[10]
Gluing & solvent weldingNot documentedCyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[10]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNot documentedNo practical vapour smoothing[10]
Support material pairingThis is the support material. MTS1 is matched to PC/ABS and PC; HTS1 and HTS2 to the higher-temperature classes[2][1]Polymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[10]
Dimensional accuracy & detailNot documentedTear strength 170 kN/m (Fillamentum, ISO 34-1) and 175 kN/m (Extrudr FLEX HARD, ISO 34-1B)[3][4]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inAqueous alkali, not water: IEMAI specifies an alkaline bath in an ultrasonic cleaner until the support dissolves.[7]DMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[17]
Softened or crazed byNot documentedToluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; esters swell it severely; ethanol and IPA soften it.[17]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentNone — the alkaline bath dissolves the support rather than welding anything.[7]None practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[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 HTS1 Break Away Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  2. THERMAX MTS1 Break Away Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 3DXTech · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Flexfill TPU 98A Technical Data Sheet Fillamentum · 2019-08 · tds
  4. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  5. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. Push Plastic product catalogue Push Plastic · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. IEMAI 3D HT-SP alkaline-soluble support filament — store page IEMAI 3D · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  10. TPU — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  11. THERMAX HTS1 — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  12. THERMAX MTS1 — product page 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  13. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  14. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  15. THERMAX HTS2 Break Away Support Technical Data Sheet v1.0 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. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds