3D Printing InfoWhere it is used
Functional prototyping for mechanical engineering, electronics and automotive
Sources
- XSTRAND GF30-PC Data Sheet · 2019-04 · tds
Polycarbonate · Material guide
Glass-fibre PC (PC-GF)
Polycarbonate with 30 wt% short glass fibre. Owens Corning's XSTRAND GF30-PC is the reference grade: 5400 MPa tensile modulus, 137 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa, UL 94 V-0, and the only…
Open in interactive comparisonUnderstand the material
At a glance
Before you print
- Setup difficulty
- —
- Nozzle wear
- Highly abrasive — 30 wt% glass fibre
Read the full material overview
Polycarbonate with 30 wt% short glass fibre. Owens Corning's XSTRAND GF30-PC is the reference grade: 5400 MPa tensile modulus, 137 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa, UL 94 V-0, and the only category in this dataset with a published printed CTE in both XY and Z.
Applications
Glass-filled PC is an engineering housing material when rigidity and dimensional control matter more than transparency or large elastic deflection. Reinforcement helps locating features resist bending, while the PC matrix contributes heat resistance. Covestro lists Makrolon GF9002 for thin-wall electrical and electronic housings, a clear injection-molding example of this role. Reinforcement level and formulation distinguish such molding grades from glass-filled filaments.
The tradeoff is lower ductility: a stiff housing can crack at a strained corner instead of yielding. Thermal expansion is also directional; the printed XSTRAND reference expands substantially more through the layers than within them. That matters in a warm fixture with closely spaced mounting holes. Glass filler wears printing hardware, and the material loses the optical clarity that makes unfilled PC useful for windows and light guides.
Thin-wall electrical housings ↗
Injection molding · Makrolon GF9002, 10% glass-filled PC; distinct from 30% glass-filled XSTRAND filament · Manufacturer-listed applications
Covestro identifies electrical/electronic housings with low wall thickness as applications for Makrolon GF9002, a dimensionally stable, flame-retardant glass-filled PC resin. This illustrates the engineering role of PC-GF without transferring its molding data or flame rating to the catalog filament.
Sources
- XSTRAND GF30-PC Data Sheet · 2019-04 · tds
Find printable models
Check the model’s material and process notes before choosing a filament.
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)
280-330 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC)
Full value & sources
280-330 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC)
- XSTRAND GF30-PC Data Sheet · 2019-04 · tds
Bed temperature (°C)
80-110 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC)
Full value & sources
80-110 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC)
- XSTRAND GF30-PC Data Sheet · 2019-04 · tds
Enclosure
Enclosure required (passive)
Full value & sources
Enclosure required (passive) — as for unfilled PC
- PolyLite PC Technical Data Sheet V5.4 · 2024-11 · tds
- ABS / ASA / PC Usage Guide · 2026-08 · doc
Drying
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Full value & sources
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—Go deeper when you need to
44 documented fieldsProperties & source data
Open a topic to explore the complete data. Each value keeps its original conditions, units and dated sources.
Material & market8 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Base polymer / chemistry | Polycarbonate reinforced with 30 wt% short glass fibre | 1 source
|
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.17 (measured on a 100 % infill printed part, ISO 1183-A) | 1 source
|
| Typical price (USD/kg) | 1 kg spools cluster near 71 | 1 source
|
| Price range across brands (USD/kg) | 71 — BASF Ultrafuse PC GF30 at igo3d is the only priced listing found; Owens Corning sells XSTRAND GF30-PC in 500 g and 1 kg | 2 sources
|
| Market availability (1–5) | Niche, a handful of specialist brands — neither Polymaker's nor 3DXTech's polycarbonate range contains a glass-fibre grade, but BASF Forward AM and Owens Corning both sell one through European retail | 4 sources
|
| Spool sizes & diameters | 1.75 and 2.85 mm at +/- 0.05 mm; 500 g and 1 kg net spools | 1 source
|
| Typical applications | Functional prototyping for mechanical engineering, electronics and automotive | 1 source
|
| Diameter tolerance (± mm) | +/- 0.05 (Owens Corning XSTRAND) | 1 source
|
Print settings5 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 280-330 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC) | 1 source
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 80-110 (Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC) | 1 source
|
| Enclosure / chamber requirement (1–5) | Enclosure required (passive) — as for unfilled PC | 2 sources
|
| Bed surface & adhesion aid | Perforated plate, DimaFix or Magigoo PC glue (Owens Corning) | 1 source
|
| Extruder requirement | Owens Corning specifies a nozzle above 0.4 mm and hardened steel nozzles and drive wheels | 1 source
|
Nozzle wear & reliability3 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle hardness required (1–4) | Hardened steel required — Owens Corning states glass reinforcement shortens brass nozzle and drive-wheel life | 1 source
|
| Abrasiveness (1–5) | Highly abrasive — 30 wt% glass fibre | 1 source
|
| Nozzle clog risk (1–5) | High — jams from moisture, heat creep or particles; PC already absorbs water from the air and Prusa lists glass-filled composites as a higher clogging risk | 2 sources
|
Moisture & drying3 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity) (1–5) | Negligible (<0.1 % EMC) — Owens Corning measures below 0.1 % at 23 °C and 50 % RH (ISO 62) | 1 source
|
| Equilibrium moisture content at ~50 % RH (%) | Below 0.1 at 23 °C and 50 % RH, and below 0.1 at saturation (ISO 62) | 1 source
|
| Effect of moisture on strength | No dry-versus-conditioned figures are published. Polymaker calls PC highly hygroscopic; absorbed water flashes to steam and shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion | 2 sources
|
Strength & mechanical properties9 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 65 at break (printed, ISO 527 at 1 mm/min) | 1 source
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 5400 (printed, ISO 527 at 1 mm/min) | 1 source
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 2.5 at break (printed, ISO 527 at 1 mm/min) | 1 source
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 113 at yield (printed, ISO 178 at 2 mm/min) | 1 source
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 5500 (printed, ISO 178 at 2 mm/min) | 1 source
|
| Brittleness (1–5) | Brittle — snaps with little warning; 2.5 % elongation at break | 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 glass-fibre grade | 1 source
|
| Creep resistance / sustained load (1–5) | Excellent — holds load for years. Room-temperature tensile creep of moulded unfilled PC ran unbroken at 41 MPa until the test was stopped, and 30 wt% glass raises the tensile modulus from about 2.3 to 5.4 GPa | 2 sources
|
| Elasticity / flexibility (1–5) | Rigid | 1 source
|
Heat & temperature5 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C) | 137 (printed, ISO 75 Method A at 1.8 MPa) | 1 source
|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 145 (DSC, ISO 11357) | 1 source
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | 270 stated as melting point (ISO 11357) — unusual for an amorphous polymer, but this is the published figure | 1 source
|
| Thermal expansion (CTE) (µm/m·K) | 26.2 in XY and 77.4 in Z (printed, ISO 11359-2) — a threefold anisotropy, and the lowest in-plane expansion of any polycarbonate here | 1 source
|
| Flammability / UL 94 | UL 94 V-0 verified (Owens Corning) | 1 source
|
Weather & chemical resistance3 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| UV resistance (1–5) | Good — years with some colour shift. Owens Corning lists UV resistance as a product benefit but publishes no exposure data | 1 source
|
| Water / humidity resistance in service (1–5) | Excellent — essentially unaffected; below 0.1 % water at saturation (ISO 62) | 1 source
|
| Electrical & ESD properties | Electrically insulating (Owens Corning) | 1 source
|
Health & safety4 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 | |
| Dust & fibre handling hazard | Owens Corning warns that the glass reinforcement is abrasive when melted and advises sufficient ventilation and avoiding extrusion fumes | 1 source
|
Finishing & post-processing1 field
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Dimensional accuracy & detail | High dimensional stability is the headline benefit; the 26.2 um/m*K in-plane CTE is a third of unfilled PC's | 1 source
|
Solvents & solubility3 fields
| Property and unit | Published value and conditions | Sources and dates |
|---|---|---|
| Soluble in | Dichloromethane and chloroform dissolve the matrix and leave the fibre; DMF and dioxane do the same (Covestro). | 1 source |
| Softened or crazed by | Methanol, butyl acetate, ether, 1 % NaOH and phthalate plasticisers stress-crack it; acetone, MEK and xylene swell it. | 1 source |
| Solvent welding & smoothing agent | Dichloromethane cement welds the resin, but the fibre keeps the joint from flowing closed. 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.
Find a specific filament
1 listingProduct 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 1 product from 1 brand
BASF Forward AMUltrafuse PC GF3071.27 USD/kg
EUR 65.99 incl. 19 % VAT / 1 kg spool = $71.27/kg at 1.08 USD/EUR, igo3d.com, Aug 2026
Black, 2.85 mm. igo3d links Owens Corning XSTRAND GF30-PC documentation against this listing.
Open product listing ↗- BASF Ultrafuse PC GF30 Black 2.85 mm 1.000 g · 2026-08 · vendor
- Technisches Datenblatt Ultrafuse PC GF30 v1.1 · 2022-01 · tds
| Base polymer / chemistry | Polycarbonate with 30 % glass fibre |
|
|---|---|---|
| Density (g/cm³) | 1.176 of the printed part (ISO 1183-1) |
|
| Nozzle temperature (°C) | 280–330 |
|
| Bed temperature (°C) | 80–100 |
|
| Nozzle hardness required (1–4) | Hardened steel required; nozzle 0.6 mm or larger |
|
| Drying temperature & time | 100 °C for 4–16 h in a hot-air dryer or vacuum oven |
|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 36.1 (printed XY flat, ISO 527); 11.2 printed ZX |
|
| Young's modulus (MPa) | 2665 (printed XY flat, ISO 527); 1231 printed ZX |
|
| Elongation at break (%) | 2.4 (printed XY flat, ISO 527); 1.1 printed ZX |
|
| Flexural strength (MPa) | 63.4 (printed XY flat, ISO 178); 78.8 printed XZ edge |
|
| Flexural modulus (MPa) | 2690 (printed XY flat, ISO 178); 3450 printed XZ edge |
|
| Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²) | 6.1 (printed XY flat, notched, ISO 179-2); 1.8 printed ZX |
|
| Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa) | 11.2 (printed ZX vertical, ISO 527) |
|
| Z strength as % of XY (%) | 31 — 11.2 MPa ZX against 36.1 MPa XY (ISO 527) |
|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C) | 134 (ISO 75-2, 0.45 MPa) |
|
| HDT at 1.8 MPa (°C) | 124 (ISO 75-2, 1.8 MPa) |
|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 142 (ISO 11357-2) |
|
| Melting point / Vicat (°C) | 259 melting (ISO 11357-3) |
|
| Flammability / UL 94 | UL 94 V-0 at 1.5 mm and 3.0 mm |
|
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