3D Printing Info

Filament comparison

TPE SEBS vs TPU 85A

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

TPE (SEBS) guideTPU 85A guide

2 selected · all documented properties

Open these two in the interactive comparisonMore TPE SEBS comparisonsMore TPU 85A comparisons
TPE SEBS vs TPU 85A — documented properties and sources
PropertyTPE (SEBS)FLEXTPU 85AFLEX
Market snapshot
Listing priceUSD/kg; dated snapshots$98.25/kg median; $76.50–$120.00/kg across 2 dated product listings$89.89/kg median; $31.99–$106.05/kg across 6 dated product listings
Identity & Market
Base polymer / chemistryStyrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene thermoplastic elastomer — a styrenic rubber, not a polyurethane[1]Soft thermoplastic polyurethane at 82–85 Shore A[2][3][4]
Densityg/cm³1.044 printed part density (BASF Ultrafuse TPS 90A, ISO 1183-1) — the lightest elastomer here[1]1.11 (BASF Ultrafuse 85A) to 1.19 (NinjaFlex 85A), ISO 1183 / ASTM D792[4][2]
Typical priceUSD/kg1 kg-equivalent spools cluster near 77[5]1 kg-equivalent spools span 32–106; the middle of the market is about 90[6][7][2]
Price range across brandsUSD/kg77 for the Recreus 600 g spool; Proto-pasta only lists a 50 g coil, which prices at 120[5][8]32–106 across brands; Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A 32 at 1 kg, add:north TPU Pro Matte 85A 72, Recreus Filaflex 82A 90 at 500 g, Proto-pasta Clear Flexible TPU 90, 3DXTech 3DXFLEX 85A 96, NinjaTek NinjaFlex 106[8][6][7][9][2]
Market availability1–5Niche, a handful of specialist brands[1][8][5]Available from several mainstream brands[6][8]
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.05 and 0.6 kg spools[1][5]1.75, 2.85 and 3 mm; 0.5, 1 and 2 kg spools[6][8][2]
Typical applicationsSoft-touch overmoulds and skin-contact parts where a non-polyurethane elastomer is wanted[1]Soft-touch grips, seals, wearables and anything that must compress and rebound[2][3]
Printing Parameters
Nozzle temperature°C260–280 (BASF Ultrafuse TPS 90A) — far hotter than any TPU here[1]200–220 (BASF Ultrafuse 85A, 210 typical)[4]
Bed temperature°C70–90 (BASF Ultrafuse TPS 90A)[1]40 (BASF Ultrafuse 85A)[4]
Enclosure / chamber requirement1–5Open frame is fine[1]Open frame is fine[4]
Bed surface & adhesion aidPEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[10][11]PEI sheet or painter's tape; Polymaker warns TPU can over-stick and advises a glue stick as a release agent[10][11]
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions)mm³/s0.8–2.4 at the 10–30 mm/s BASF specifies on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer — the slowest material in this group[1]1.2–3.2 at the 15–40 mm/s BASF specifies on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer[4]
Warping tendency1–5Not documentedNone[4]
Bed-adhesion difficulty1–5Not documentedSticks to anything — Recreus states its 82A grade has excellent bed adhesion without a heated bed or additives[3]
Stringing / oozing tendency1–5Not documentedHigh — drying plus tuning needed[12][11]
Overall printing difficulty1–5Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning[1]Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning; at this hardness the filament will not push through a Bowden tube[2][3]
Extruder requirementNozzle 0.4 mm or larger; BASF caps print speed at 10–30 mm/s[1]Direct drive only. NinjaTek calls its 85A grade ideal for direct-drive extruders and Recreus specifies direct-drive printers for 82A; BASF caps print speed at 15–40 mm/s with a nozzle of 0.4 mm or larger[2][3][4]
Hardware Wear & Reliability
Nozzle hardness required1–4Brass fine indefinitely[13]Brass fine indefinitely[13]
Abrasiveness1–5Non-abrasive[13]Non-abrasive[13]
Nozzle clog risk1–5Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; BASF caps print speed at 10–30 mm/s and Simplify3D warns that raised feed rates on flexibles most likely end in a jam[10][1]High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles[12][11]
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity1–5Not documentedVery high — softens in the cold zone readily; soft filament buckles between the drive gear and the melt zone[11][2]
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[10]No special hot-end required, but a direct-drive extruder is (Simplify3D)[10]
Moisture Behaviour
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity)1–5Negligible (<0.1 % EMC) — BASF states drying is not necessary, unique among the elastomers here[1]Moderate — NinjaTek measures 0.22 % in 24 h (ASTM D570) and BASF specifies a 70 °C dry for at least 5 h[2][4]
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH%Not documented0.22 after 24 h water immersion (NinjaFlex 85A, ASTM D570) — an immersion figure, not an equilibrium moisture content at 50 % RH[2]
Drying temperature & timeNone — BASF states Ultrafuse TPS 90A arrives in a printable condition and drying is not necessary[1]70 °C for at least 5 h in a hot-air dryer or vacuum oven (BASF)[4]
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[12]Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface[12]
Effect of moisture on strengthNot applicable — the SEBS chemistry has no amide or ester linkages to take up water, and BASF specifies no drying at all[1]Polymaker groups TPU with the highly hygroscopic materials; wet TPU prints with poor layer adhesion and weak, brittle layers[12]
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[12]Sealed with desiccant; often kept in a dryer during the print[12]
Mechanical Properties
Tensile strength (XY)MPaNot documented26 ultimate (NinjaFlex 85A, ASTM D638)[2]
Young's modulusMPaNot documented12 (NinjaFlex 85A, ASTM D638) — two orders of magnitude below any rigid filament; NinjaTek's 95A Cheetah reaches 26 by the same method[2][14]
Elongation at break%Not documented650 at break (Filaflex 82A) and 660 (NinjaFlex 85A); BASF measures 600 in XY and 320 in ZX[3][2][4]
Brittleness1–5Very ductile — bends far before failing[1]Very ductile — bends far before failing[2]
Hardness (scale-specific)Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell89 Shore A and 29 Shore D (BASF Ultrafuse TPS 90A, ISO 7619-1)[1]29 Shore D / 85 Shore A (BASF Ultrafuse 85A, ISO 7619-1); 85 Shore A (NinjaFlex, ASTM D2240); 82 A nominal for Filaflex[2][4][3]
Creep resistance / sustained load1–5Poor — no SEBS creep test; a printed 95A TPU bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg[15]Poor — no 85A creep test; a printed 95A TPU bar crept from 74.5 to 82.7 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, and softer grades creep more[15]
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance1–5Excellent — living hinges viable[11]Excellent — living hinges viable[11]
Elasticity / flexibility1–5Rubbery / highly elastic[1]Rubbery / highly elastic[2][3]
Z strength as % of XY%Not documented53 — BASF measures 320 % elongation at break in ZX against 600 % in XY[4]
Wear resistance & frictionAbrasion 111 mm³ (ISO 4649) — the poorest abrasion resistance in this group, well behind TPU[1]Abrasion 0.08 g mass loss over 10 000 cycles (NinjaFlex, ASTM D4060); 82 mm³ (BASF, ISO 4649)[2][4]
Thermal Properties
Melting point / Vicat°C242–249 melting (BASF Ultrafuse TPS 90A, ISO 11357-3)[1]216 melting (NinjaFlex 85A, DSC)[2]
Environment & Chemical
UV resistance1–5Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[11]Good — years with some colour shift; Polymaker lists UV exposure among the conditions TPU withstands[11]
Chemical resistanceWithstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[11]Withstands industrial solvents and UV exposure (Polymaker)[11]
Water / humidity resistance in service1–5Excellent — essentially unaffected[1]Not documented
Food contactNot food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[11]Not food safe without specific certification (Polymaker)[11]
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable[11]Not biodegradable[11]
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection[11]Not accepted in household plastic collection[11]
Health & Safety
Fume toxicity1–5Low hazard — minimal VOC and particle emission; TPU was not among the nine filaments 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 & machiningDifficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[11]Difficult to sand or smooth; Polymaker limits post-processing to trimming or tumbling[11]
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[11]Cyanoacrylate bonds TPU; no common solvent welds it[11]
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing[11]No practical vapour smoothing[11]
Support material pairingPolymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[11]Polymaker warns TPU supports are often very difficult to remove[11]
Solvents & Solubility
Soluble inToluene dissolves SEBS at room temperature — Kraton quotes solution viscosity at 25 % mass in toluene, 25 °C.[17]DMF, DMSO, NMP and THF dissolve TPU; acetone, MEK and cyclohexanone are partial solvents. All laboratory reagents.[18]
Softened or crazed bySoaking in hydrocarbon solvents and oils deteriorates it; short exposures are tolerated. Resists water, acids and bases.[17]Toluene and benzene swell it up to +50 % by weight at 23 °C; esters swell it severely; ethanol and IPA soften it.[18]
Solvent welding & smoothing agentToluene will weld it, though the joint stays soft; no workshop-safe agent, and vapour smoothing is not practical.[17]None practical — the true solvents (DMF, THF, NMP) are laboratory reagents and leave the joint swollen and weak.[18]

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. Ultrafuse TPS 90A Technical Data Sheet (Version 1.1, SEBS) BASF Forward AM · 2020-12 · tds
  2. NinjaFlex 85A Technical Specifications NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  3. Filaflex 82A product page (Shore hardness and elongation) Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  4. Ultrafuse TPU 85A Technical Data Sheet (Version 3.0) BASF Forward AM · 2022-08 · tds
  5. Recreus product catalogue Recreus · 2026-08 · vendor
  6. 3DXTech product catalogue 3DXTech · 2026-08 · vendor
  7. Siraya Tech Flex TPU 85A Filament — product page Siraya Tech · 2026-08 · vendor
  8. Proto-pasta product catalogue Proto-pasta · 2026-08 · vendor
  9. add:north TPU Pro Matte 85A product page add:north · 2026-08 · vendor
  10. Flexible (TPE/TPU) — Ultimate 3D Printing Materials Guide Simplify3D · 2026-08 · doc
  11. TPU — material basics Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  12. Wet Filament — signs, causes and drying Polymaker Wiki · 2026-08 · doc
  13. Extrudr Product Catalogue (DURAPRO PA12 data block) Extrudr · 2025-03 · tds
  14. NinjaTek technical specs comparison chart (Cheetah, NinjaFlex, Armadillo, Alloy 910, Nylon 645) NinjaTek · 2026-08 · tds
  15. BambuLab TPU 95A HF vs Qidi TPU 95A HF — results spreadsheet My Tech Fun (Igor Gaspar) · 2024-02 · test
  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. KRATON polymers Grade Range — chemical resistance and toluene solution data Kraton Corporation · 2025-07 · tds
  18. Elastollan — Chemical properties: swelling and chemical resistance BASF · 2026-08 · tds