3D Printing InfoWhere it is used
Automotive interior and electronics housings that need PC heat resistance without PC's warping
Sources
- Polymaker PC-ABS Technical Data Sheet V5.4 · 2024-11 · tds
Polycarbonate · Material guide
PC/ABS blend
A PC/ABS alloy that keeps most of PC's heat resistance while printing closer to ABS; notched Charpy of 25.8 kJ/m² beats both parents, and it still holds 13 kJ/m² at −30 °C.
Open in interactive comparisonUnderstand the material
At a glance
Before you print
- Setup difficulty
- Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning
- Nozzle wear
- Non-abrasive
Read the full material overview
A PC/ABS alloy that keeps most of PC's heat resistance while printing closer to ABS; notched Charpy of 25.8 kJ/m² beats both parents, and it still holds 13 kJ/m² at −30 °C.
Applications
PC/ABS balances toughness and heat resistance with the processing behavior and finish of an ABS-containing blend. This explains its position in automotive trim and electronics packaging, where a part must hold mounting features and survive handling. Webasto and Covestro demonstrate the combination in a two-shot roof sensor module bezel: a transparent PC first shot provides sensor windows, while mineral-reinforced PC/ABS forms the opaque supporting structure.
The ABS phase improves processing balance, but the blend remains sensitive to UV exposure and several solvents. FDM parts still need controlled moisture and adequate layer bonding, particularly around bearing seats and screw bosses. Notched-impact performance varies with temperature and formulation; a mineral-filled molding grade prioritizing dimensional stability will not behave like an unfilled, highly ductile blend.
Webasto roof sensor module bezel ↗
Two-shot injection molding · Mineral-reinforced Bayblend T95 MF PC/ABS plus a separate transparent PC grade; not unfilled PC/ABS filament · Documented case
Covestro documents an injection-molded prototype bezel with a transparent Makrolon AG first shot and a mineral-reinforced Bayblend T95 MF PC/ABS second shot. Combining sensor transparency and a supporting opaque structure serves the module design.
Sources
- Polymaker PC-ABS Technical Data Sheet V5.4 · 2024-11 · tds
- PC-ABS — FDM Material Data Sheet · 2023-08 · tds
- PC — material basics · 2026-08 · doc
- Makrolon — The chemical resistance (Makrolon 2800, 6 days at 23 °C and 50 °C) · 2016-12 · tds
- Chemical resistance — resistance of Ensinger plastics to chemicals (DIN 50 014, 23/50) · 2026-08 · tds
Printed examples
WristWatch MK8 Extruder Body ↗
The uploader compares two printed extruder bodies in a close-up bearing-alignment photo, explicitly identifying the right-hand body as PC-ABS. Follow the model link to inspect the comparison.
Material evidence & listing attribution
Listing note: “Examples in the photo are PA6GF25 on the left and PC-ABS on the right.”
Printables listing uploaded by minilogique · GNU GPL v3.0Original listing · Checked 2026-10-17. This is an uploader report, not an independent material test.
Find more models
Plan your printer setup
All print settings ↓Printing quick reference
Representative catalog values. Check the exact grade and its linked conditions before using a setting.
Nozzle temperature (°C)
250–270 (Polymaker)
Bed temperature (°C)
90–105 (Polymaker)
Enclosure
Enclosure required (passive)
Full value & sources
Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker specifies a 90–100 °C chamber
- Polymaker PC-ABS Technical Data Sheet V5.4 · 2024-11 · tds
Drying
75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)
Full value & sources
75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)
- Polymaker PC-ABS Technical Data Sheet V5.4 · 2024-11 · tds
Go deeper when you need to
63 documented fieldsProperties & source data
Open a topic to explore the complete data. Each value keeps its original conditions, units and dated sources.
Material & market7 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Base polymer / chemistry | Polycarbonate/ABS alloy — PC stiffness and heat resistance with ABS processability | 2 sources
|
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.10 (Polymaker) and 1.24 (3DXTech FR grade), ISO 1183; Stratasys specific gravity 1.10 (ASTM D792) | 3 sources
|
| Typical price (USD/kg) | 1 kg spools cluster near 50 | 2 sources
|
| Price range across brands (USD/kg) | 35–84 across brands; Reli3D 35, SUNLU 46, Polymaker 50, 3DXMAX 84 | 4 sources
|
| Market availability (1–5) | Available from several mainstream brands | 2 sources
|
| Spool sizes & diameters | 1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5 and 1 kg spools | 2 sources
|
| Typical applications | Automotive interior and electronics housings that need PC heat resistance without PC's warping | 1 source
|
Print settings11 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 250–270 (Polymaker) | 1 source
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 90–105 (Polymaker) | 1 source
|
| Enclosure / chamber requirement (1–5) | Enclosure required (passive) — Polymaker specifies a 90–100 °C chamber | 1 source
|
| Recommended chamber temperature (°C) | 90–100 (Polymaker) | 1 source
|
| Part cooling fan | Off (Polymaker) | 1 source
|
| Bed surface & adhesion aid | PEI with a glue stick or a commercial adhesive | 1 source
|
| Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions) (mm³/s) | 20 at Polymaker's 250 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer | 2 sources
|
| Warping tendency (1–5) | High — enclosure needed for reliable large parts | 2 sources
|
| Bed-adhesion difficulty (1–5) | Needs a specific surface plus adhesive | 2 sources
|
| Stringing / oozing tendency (1–5) | Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker flags stringing as a common PC problem | 1 source
|
| Overall printing difficulty (1–5) | Advanced — enclosure, hardware upgrades, tuning | 2 sources
|
Nozzle wear & reliability5 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle hardness required (1–4) | Brass fine indefinitely | 1 source
|
| Abrasiveness (1–5) | Non-abrasive | 1 source
|
| Nozzle clog risk (1–5) | Moderate — needs dry filament and a clean nozzle; 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns but a 120 °C pre-dry of 4 h or more | 1 source
|
| Heat-creep / jam sensitivity (1–5) | Slightly sensitive | 1 source
|
| Hotend requirement | All-metal hot end required (Simplify3D) | 1 source
|
Moisture & drying5 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity) (1–5) | Low (0.1–0.3 %) — the PC matrix takes up 0.15–0.25 % and 3DXTech specifies a 120 °C, 4 h or more pre-dry | 3 sources
|
| Drying temperature & time | 75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker) | 1 source
|
| Symptoms when wet | Bubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface | 1 source
|
| Effect of moisture on strength | No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published. Polymaker calls PC highly hygroscopic and requires a 70–80 °C dry for 6–8 h; run wet, the loss shows as surface defects and poor layer adhesion | 2 sources
|
| Storage requirement | Airtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption | 1 source
|
Strength & mechanical properties13 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 39.9 ± 1.0 printed XY, ISO 527 (Polymaker); 3DXTech quotes 60 at break for its FR PC/ABS | 2 sources
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 1835 ± 65 printed XY, ISO 527 (Polymaker); 3DXTech quotes 2250 | 2 sources
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 4.2 ± 0.3 printed XY, ISO 527 (Polymaker); 3DXTech quotes 10 at break | 2 sources
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 66.3 ± 0.9 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker); 3DXTech quotes 85 | 2 sources
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 2081 ± 106 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker); 3DXTech quotes 2300 | 2 sources
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 25.8 ± 1.3 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Polymaker) — above both unfilled PC and ABS | 1 source
|
| Other impact data | Notched Charpy still 13 ± 2 kJ/m² at −30 °C printed XY (Polymaker, ISO 179-1/1eA), against 1.5 in Z. Stratasys prints Izod notched at 241 J/m XZ against 34.0 J/m ZX, and unnotched 655 against 101 J/m (ASTM D256, F900 T16). | 2 sources
|
| Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa) | 25.9-30.2 at break printed ZX (Stratasys, ASTM D638 on the F900 and Fortus 450mc); 22.9 +/- 1.2 printed Z, ISO 527 (Polymaker) | 2 sources
|
| Brittleness (1–5) | Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking | 1 source
|
| Hardness (scale-specific) (Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell) | Rockwell 70 (118) — the source does not name the scales and Shore D 79 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D785, D2240); no figure is published for a PC/ABS filament | 1 source
|
| Creep resistance / sustained load (1–5) | Good. Room-temperature tensile creep of moulded PC/ABS was still running unbroken at 30 MPa when the experiment was stopped for time; specimens failed within the test window at 39-47 MPa (ASTM D638) | 1 source |
| Elasticity / flexibility (1–5) | Rigid | 1 source
|
| Z strength as % of XY (%) | 75-86 (Stratasys ZX against XZ tensile at break, ASTM D638) against 57 (Polymaker, printed Z against XY tensile) | 2 sources
|
Heat & temperature7 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 112 (ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa, Polymaker); Stratasys prints 117.9 in XY and 126.1 in XZ (ASTM D648 Method B at 66 psi), against 125.0 moulded | 2 sources
|
| HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C) | 106 (ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa, Polymaker); Stratasys prints 107.5 in XY and 112.0 in XZ (ASTM D648 Method B at 264 psi), against 102.9 moulded | 2 sources
|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 109 (Polymaker) and 137 (3DXTech FR grade), DSC; Stratasys measures 105.3 (ASTM D7426 inflection point) | 3 sources
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | Amorphous — no melting point; Vicat 135 (Polymaker, ISO 306) | 1 source
|
| Continuous service temperature (°C) | 113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend | 1 source
|
| Annealing response | 90 °C for 2 h (Polymaker) | 1 source
|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) (µm/m·K) | 59.9 over -50 to 35 °C and 73.0 over -50 to 95 °C (printed XY, ASTM E831) | 1 source
|
Weather & chemical resistance5 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| UV resistance (1–5) | Degrades within weeks outdoors | 1 source
|
| Chemical resistance | Withstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids | 1 source
|
| Food contact | Bisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament | 1 source
|
| Biodegradability / compostability | Not biodegradable | 1 source
|
| Recyclability | Mechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection | 1 source
|
Health & safety3 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Fume toxicity (1–5) | Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised | |
| Ultrafine-particle emission rate (particles/min) | ≈4 × 10¹⁰ median — the highest ultrafine-particle rate of the nine filaments in the chamber study, above every ABS tested | |
| Ventilation / filtration requirement (1–5) | Ventilated room or enclosure recommended |
Finishing & post-processing4 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Sanding & machining | Sands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips | 1 source
|
| Gluing & solvent welding | Cyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent | 1 source
|
| Vapour / chemical smoothing | Acetone attacks the ABS phase, so surface smoothing is partial rather than full | 1 source
|
| Support material pairing | Prints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support | 1 source
|
Solvents & solubility3 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Soluble in | Dichloromethane and chloroform dissolve the PC phase; acetone, MEK and THF dissolve the ABS phase. | 2 sources |
| Softened or crazed by | Petrol, esters, ether and 1 % alkali stress-crack the PC phase; aromatics and esters soften the ABS phase. | 2 sources |
| Solvent welding & smoothing agent | Acetone attacks only the ABS phase, so smoothing is partial; a dichloromethane cement welds the whole section. | 2 sources
|
How to read these values
Values describe representative grades, not every spool. Manufacturer datasheets and independent tests retain their source labels and dates. Printed orientation, test method, conditioning and formulation can change results. Unknown values are —. A listed use is not a certification. Shore A, Shore D and Rockwell hardness are separate scales.
Find a specific filament
5 listingsProduct listings and datasheets
Historical USD/kg snapshots. Read each listing’s sale/from qualifiers, spool mass, source date, shipping and tax notes. Product figures are separate from the material summary.
Browse 5 products from 5 brands
Reli3DPC-ABS34.99 USD/kg
$34.99 / 1 kg spool in black, Amazon US listing, Aug 2026; a 0.25 kg spool is listed separately
Amazon-only brand; reli3d.com does not resolve. Sold on low warpage; enclosed printer recommended.
Open product listing ↗- Reli3D PC-ABS Filament, Black, 1000 g spool · 2026-08 · vendor
| Spool sizes & diameters | 1000 g spool; 1.75 mm |
|
|---|---|---|
| Enclosure / chamber requirement (1–5) | Enclosure recommended |
|
| Sanding & machining | Sands and drills cleanly |
|
| Vapour / chemical smoothing | Acetone vapour smoothing works |
|
Filament PMPC/ABS37.11 USD/kg
EUR 34.36 incl. 21 % VAT / 1 kg spool = $37.11/kg at 1.08 USD/EUR, shop.filament-pm.com, Aug 2026
Maker specifies an enclosed printer and no part cooling.
Open product listing ↗- Filament PM PC/ABS technical data sheet (TDS_PCABS_EN.pdf) · 2026-08 · tds
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.19 (ISO 1183/B) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Diameter tolerance (± mm) | 0.05 |
|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 270–300 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 110–120 (TDS); the listing states 100–110 |
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 2650 (ISO 178) |
|
| Other impact data | 40 kJ/m² impact strength, ISO 179 (notch type and specimen not stated) |
|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 98 (ISO 75, load not stated) |
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | 115 (Vicat, ISO 306) |
|
| Flammability / UL 94 | UL 94 V-0 (stated on the maker's data sheet) |
|
SUNLUPC-ABS45.99 USD/kg
Regular $45.99 / 1 kg spool, store.sunlu.com, Aug 2026; a 15 % back-to-school flash deal was showing $39.99. US, CA and AU variants showed out of stock
Vendor specifies a 90–100 °C chamber and recommends annealing after printing.
Open product listing ↗- SUNLU PC-ABS 3D Printer Filament 1 kg · 2026-08 · vendor
- SUNLU Filament Usage Guide — drying and printing parameters by material · 2026-08 · doc
| Spool sizes & diameters | 1 kg spool; 1.75 mm |
|
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 260-280 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 100-110 |
|
| Recommended chamber temperature (°C) | 90-100 |
|
| Part cooling fan | Off |
|
| Bed surface & adhesion aid | Almost any surface with a thin coat of glue |
|
| Drying temperature & time | 70–80 °C for 6–8 h (recommended) | |
| Annealing response | Annealing right after printing is recommended to relieve residual internal stress |
|
PolymakerPC-ABS49.99 USD/kg
$49.99 / 1 kg spool, Polymaker product catalogue, Aug 2026
Handle polymaker-pc-abs. Notched Charpy 25.8 kJ/m² at 23 °C and still 13 kJ/m² at −30 °C.
Open product listing ↗- Polymaker PC-ABS product page · 2026-08 · vendor
- Polymaker PC-ABS Technical Data Sheet V5.4 · 2024-11 · tds
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.10 (ISO 1183) |
|
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 250–270 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 90–105 |
|
| Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH (%) | 0.352 equilibrium water absorption |
|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 39.9 ± 1.0 (printed XY, ISO 527); Z 22.9 |
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 1835 ± 65 (printed XY, ISO 527); Z 1677 |
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 4.2 ± 0.3 (printed XY, ISO 527); Z 1.5 |
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 66.3 ± 0.9 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 2081 ± 106 (printed XY, ISO 178) |
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 25.8 ± 1.3 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched) |
|
| Other impact data | Charpy notched at -30 °C: 13 kJ/m² XY, 1.5 kJ/m² Z (ISO 179-1/1eA) |
|
| Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa) | 22.9 ± 1.2 (printed Z, ISO 527) |
|
| Z strength as % of XY (%) | 57 (printed Z 22.9 vs XY 39.9, ISO 527) |
|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 112 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) |
|
| HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C) | 106 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa) |
|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 109 (DSC) |
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | Vicat 135 (ISO 306) |
|
3DXTech3DXMAX PC-ABS84.00 USD/kg
$42.00 / 500 g spool = $84.00/kg, 3dxtech.com product catalogue, Aug 2026
Handle 3dxmaxa-r-pc-abs.
Open product listing ↗- 3DXTech 3DXMAX ABS product page · 2026-08 · vendor
- Technical Data Sheet: 3DXMAX PC/ABS 3D Printing Filament, Rev 3.0 · 2024-08 · tds
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.14 (ISO 1183) | |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 275 (TDS printed-specimen condition) | |
| Bed temperature (°C) | 110 (TDS printed-specimen condition) | |
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 59 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) | |
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 2200 (printed XY, ISO 527) | |
| Elongation at break (%) | 75 at break (printed XY, ISO 527) | |
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 86 (printed XY, ISO 178) | |
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 2370 (printed XY, ISO 178) | |
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 126 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa) | |
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 137 (DSC) | |
| Electrical & ESD properties | Surface resistance >10^13 Ω/sq (ASTM D257) |
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