3D Printing Info
Polycarbonate · Material guide

Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR)

UL 94 V-0 polycarbonate for electrical enclosures; the retardant roughly halves elongation at break to 2.4–3.5 % and, in Bambu Lab's grade, cuts saturated water absorption to 0.12 %.

4 product listings3 brands
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UL 94 V-0 polycarbonate for electrical enclosures; the retardant roughly halves elongation at break to 2.4–3.5 % and, in Bambu Lab's grade, cuts saturated water absorption to 0.12 %.

Applications

Flame-retardant PC is important in electrical and transportation components where a useful engineering plastic must also meet specified material flammability requirements. Its value is the combination of a rigid, heat-resistant enclosure and a documented FR formulation, rather than flame retardancy alone. Polymaker reports that CURE Mannheim uses PolyMax PC-FR for TS housings and PCB enclosures in its Formula Student vehicle, selecting it for thermal stability and electrical applications.

The flame-retardant formulation has limited elongation, so thin latches and sharply loaded mounting bosses can be less forgiving than the housing walls. Drying and layer bonding remain important to mechanical reliability. Flammability classification depends on the specific grade, thickness and test conditions, while a heat-deflection result describes a loaded test specimen rather than a universal continuous operating temperature.

  • CURE Mannheim electronics enclosures ↗

    FDM/FFF printing · PolyMax PC-FR in the documented CURE Mannheim application; not generic FR PC certification · Documented case

    Polymaker reports PolyMax PC-FR use in the Formula Student team vehicle for TS housings and PCB enclosures, citing thermal stability, layer adhesion and its flame-retardant formulation. The case does not transfer vehicle safety approval to other printed enclosures.

Sources
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Properties & source data

65 documented fields

Open a topic to explore the complete data. Each value keeps its original conditions, units and dated sources.

Material & market8 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Identity & Market
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Base polymer / chemistryFlame-retardant polycarbonate. Polymaker builds its grade on Covestro's Makrolon family and rates it UL 94 V-0
2 sources
Density (g/cm³)1.18 (Bambu Lab) and 1.2 (Polymaker), ISO 1183
2 sources
Typical price (USD/kg)1 kg-equivalent spools span 55–224; the two mainstream 1 kg grades are 55 and the industrial grades 120–224
2 sources
Price range across brands (USD/kg)55–224 across brands; Bambu Lab and Polymaker 55, 3DXTech FR PC/ABS 120, 3DXLABS FR-PC 224
3 sources
Market availability (1–5)Available from several mainstream brands
3 sources
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 mm; 0.75 and 1 kg spools
3 sources
Typical applicationsElectrical enclosures, transport interiors and battery housings that must meet a flammability rating
2 sources
Diameter tolerance (± mm)±0.03 (Bambu Lab PC FR)
1 source
Print settings11 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Printing Parameters
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Nozzle temperature (°C)260–280 (Bambu Lab); 250–270 (Polymaker)
2 sources
Bed temperature (°C)90–110 (Bambu Lab); 90–105 (Polymaker)
2 sources
Enclosure / chamber requirement (1–5)Enclosure required (passive) — Bambu Lab specifies a 45–60 °C chamber, Polymaker 70–100 °C
2 sources
Recommended chamber temperature (°C)45–60 (Bambu Lab); 70–100 (Polymaker)
2 sources
Part cooling fan0–60 % (Bambu Lab)
1 source
Bed surface & adhesion aidSmooth or textured PEI plate (Bambu Lab)
1 source
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions) (mm³/s)24 at Bambu Lab's 300 mm/s cap on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer
2 sources
Warping tendency (1–5)Severe — heated chamber needed
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
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Hardware Wear & Reliability
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources 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 6 h pre-dry at 80 °C
1 source
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity (1–5)Slightly sensitive
1 source
Hotend requirementAll-metal hot end required (Simplify3D)
1 source
Moisture & drying6 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Moisture Behaviour
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity) (1–5)Low (0.1–0.3 %) — 0.12 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab), half that of unfilled Bambu Lab PC
2 sources
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH (%)0.12 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH (Bambu Lab)
1 source
Drying temperature & time75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker)
1 source
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface
1 source
Effect of moisture on strengthNo 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 requirementAirtight containers with desiccant to prevent reabsorption
1 source
Strength & mechanical properties13 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Mechanical Properties
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)60 ± 4 (Bambu Lab) and 67 ± 4.5 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527
2 sources
Young's modulus (MPa)1670 ± 40 (Bambu Lab) and 2634 ± 182 (Polymaker) printed XY, ISO 527
2 sources
Elongation at break (%)2.4 ± 0.3 (Bambu Lab) and 3.49 ± 0.7 (Polymaker) at break, printed XY, ISO 527 — the retardant roughly halves unfilled PC's elongation
3 sources
Flexural strength (MPa)96.6 ± 1.3 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker)
1 source
Flexural modulus (MPa)2518 ± 53 printed XY, ISO 178 (Polymaker)
1 source
Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²)11.7 ± 1.6 printed XY, ISO 179, notched (Polymaker)
1 source
Other impact dataNotched Charpy 7.5 ± 1.6 kJ/m² at −30 °C printed XY (Polymaker, ISO 179-1/1eA)
1 source
Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa)21 ± 3 (Bambu Lab) and 46 ± 4.8 (Polymaker) printed Z, ISO 527
2 sources
Brittleness (1–5)Moderate
2 sources
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 flame-retardant filament
1 source
Creep resistance / sustained load (1–5)Good. Moulded unfilled PC sustained 41 MPa tensile creep at room temperature without breaking, but the retardant package drops the glass transition to 115 °C in Polymaker's grade, so the unfilled rating is not carried over in full
2 sources
Elasticity / flexibility (1–5)Rigid
1 source
Z strength as % of XY (%)35 (Bambu Lab) to 69 (Polymaker), printed
2 sources
Heat & temperature7 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Thermal Properties
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)110 (Polymaker) and 113 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 0.45 MPa
2 sources
HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C)107 (Polymaker) and 108 (Bambu Lab), ISO 75 at 1.8 MPa
2 sources
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)115 (Polymaker) and 145 (Bambu Lab), DSC
2 sources
Melting point / Vicat (°C)Amorphous — no melting point; Vicat 114 (Bambu Lab, ISO 306)
1 source
Continuous service temperature (°C)113 — Prusa publishes this as the temperature resistance of Prusament PC Blend
1 source
Thermal expansion (CTE) (µm/m·K)68.4 on extruded unfilled PC stock (ASTM D696; source states 3.8e-5 in/in/°F); no figure is published for a flame-retardant grade
1 source
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 (Polymaker PolyMax PC-FR); 3DXTech rates its FR PC/ABS V-0 at 1.5 mm on the base resin
2 sources
Weather & chemical resistance5 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Environment & Chemical
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
UV resistance (1–5)Degrades within weeks outdoors unless stabilised
1 source
Chemical resistanceWithstands oils, solvents and fuels; Polymaker rates it good against weak acids
1 source
Food contactBisphenol-A polycarbonate is not offered as food-contact filament
1 source
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable
1 source
RecyclabilityMechanically recyclable but not accepted in household plastic collection
1 source
Health & safety3 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Health & Safety
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Fume toxicity (1–5)Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised
1 source
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
1 source
Ventilation / filtration requirement (1–5)Ventilated room or enclosure recommended
2 sources
Finishing & post-processing4 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Post-Processing
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Sanding & machiningSands and machines well; the toughness means it cuts rather than chips
1 source
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; dichloromethane solvent-welds PC but is a laboratory reagent
1 source
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing
1 source
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; 3DXTech sells a dedicated PC break-away support
1 source
Solvents & solubility3 fields
Flame-retardant PC (PC-FR) — Solvents & Solubility
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Soluble inDichloromethane, chloroform, DMF and dioxane dissolve it outright (Covestro, 6 days at 23 °C). Laboratory reagents.
1 source
Softened or crazed byMethanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it.
1 source
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane cement welds PC — 16.5 MPa lap shear at one week (IPS Weld-On 3). A controlled carcinogen.
1 source
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.

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Product listings and datasheets

4 listings

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 4 products from 3 brands
PolymakerPolyMax PC-FR54.99 USD/kg

$54.99 / 1 kg spool, Polymaker product catalogue, Aug 2026

Handle polymax-pc-fr. UL 94 V-0, built on Covestro's Makrolon family.

Open product listing ↗
Polymaker PolyMax PC-FR — product-specific figures
Density (g/cm³)1.2 (ISO 1183)
Nozzle temperature (°C)250–270
Bed temperature (°C)90–105
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH (%)0.22 equilibrium water absorption
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)67 ± 4.5 (printed XY, ISO 527)
Young's modulus (MPa)2634 ± 182 (printed XY, ISO 527); Z 2743
Elongation at break (%)3.49 ± 0.7 (printed XY, ISO 527); Z 2.2
Flexural strength (MPa)96.6 ± 1.3 (printed XY, ISO 178)
Flexural modulus (MPa)2518 ± 53 (printed XY, ISO 178)
Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²)11.7 ± 1.6 (printed XY, ISO 179, notched)
Other impact dataCharpy notched 7.5 kJ/m² at -30 °C (printed XY, ISO 179-1/1eA)
Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa)46 ± 4.8 (printed Z, ISO 527)
Z strength as % of XY (%)69 (printed Z 46 vs XY 67, ISO 527)
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)110 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)
HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C)107 (ISO 75, 1.8 MPa)
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)115 (DSC)
Melting point / Vicat (°C)Vicat 116 (ISO 306)
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0
Bambu LabPC FR54.99 USD/kg

$54.99 / 1 kg spool, us.store.bambulab.com, Aug 2026

Saturated water absorption 0.12 %, half that of unfilled Bambu Lab PC.

Open product listing ↗
Bambu Lab PC FR — product-specific figures
Density (g/cm³)1.18 (ISO 1183)
Diameter tolerance (± mm)±0.03
Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH (%)0.12 saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)60 ± 4 (printed XY, ISO 527)
3DXTechFirewire FR-PC/ABS120.00 USD/kg

$90.00 / 750 g spool = $120.00/kg, 3dxtech.com product catalogue, Aug 2026

Handle firewire-r-fr-pc-abs. UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm on the base resin.

Open product listing ↗
3DXTech Firewire FR-PC/ABS — product-specific figures
Density (g/cm³)1.24 (ISO 1183)
Nozzle temperature (°C)275 (TDS printed-specimen condition)
Bed temperature (°C)120 (TDS printed-specimen condition)
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)60 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)
Young's modulus (MPa)2250 (printed XY, ISO 527)
Elongation at break (%)10 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)
Flexural strength (MPa)85 (printed XY, ISO 178)
Flexural modulus (MPa)2300 (printed XY, ISO 178)
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)125 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)137 (DSC)
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm (base resin)
3DXTech3DXLABS FR-PC224.00 USD/kg

$168.00 / 750 g spool = $224.00/kg, 3dxtech.com product catalogue, Aug 2026

Handle 3dxlabs™-fr-pc. A straight flame-retardant PC rather than a PC/ABS alloy.

Open product listing ↗
3DXTech 3DXLABS FR-PC — product-specific figures
Density (g/cm³)1.2 (ISO 1183)
Spool sizes & diameters750 g reel; 1.75 mm
Nozzle temperature (°C)280 (Bambu H2D specimen conditions)
Bed temperature (°C)120 (Bambu H2D specimen conditions)
Enclosure / chamber requirement (1–5)Actively heated chamber required — 90 °C or above recommended, 65 °C with a 120 °C bed
Recommended chamber temperature (°C)90 or above; 65 or above with a 120 °C bed
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)62 (ISO 527, 5 mm/min; specimen type not stated)
Young's modulus (MPa)2400 (ISO 527, 5 mm/min; specimen type not stated)
Other impact dataNotched Izod 45 kJ/m² at 23 °C and 19 kJ/m² at −30 °C (ISO 180/A)
HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C)101 (ISO 75, 1.80 MPa)
Melting point / Vicat (°C)Vicat 118 (ISO 306, 50 N, 50 °C/h)
Flammability / UL 94UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm; IEC 60112 CTI 600 V
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistivity 10^18 Ω (IEC 62631-3-2); electrical strength 36 kV/mm at 1 mm (IEC 60243-1)
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