3D Printing Info
PETG & related polymers · Material guide

PCTG

A copolyester with more cyclohexanedimethanol than PETG: notched Izod on moulded specimens reaches 93–94 kJ/m² and elongation at break exceeds 200 %, though printed layer adhesion measures…

5 product listings5 brands
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Heltec Vision Master T190 Case shown in the JKat3 Printables listing; reported material: PCTG
Reported material: PCTGHeltec Vision Master T190 Case Printables listing uploaded by JKat3 · CC BY-NC 4.0Source image · Image bytes unchanged; displayed in full. Noncommercial reuse only.
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A copolyester with more cyclohexanedimethanol than PETG: notched Izod on moulded specimens reaches 93–94 kJ/m² and elongation at break exceeds 200 %, though printed layer adhesion measures below PETG.

Applications

PCTG is useful where impact tolerance and ductility matter more than maximum rigidity. COEX lists mechanical parts, jigs, protective casings and covers for its PCTG Prime grade. Clear grades also make the polymer attractive for viewing covers, although the black grade on that source page should not be presented as a transparent example.

PCTG’s impressive molded-specimen impact and elongation results do not directly describe every printed part. Layer bonding can be the limiting feature, and published printed-part creep testing makes it a poor default for a continuously loaded precision fixture. Its niche is tough, readily printed functional parts and covers, with actual grade, color and print orientation checked against the application.

  • Protective casings and covers ↗

    FDM · COEX PCTG Prime; source product is black · Manufacturer-listed applications

    COEX lists casings and covers for PCTG Prime, connecting its toughness and chemical resistance to functional use. This is a manufacturer application recommendation, not a certified impact-protection case study.

  • Mechanical parts and jigs ↗

    FDM · COEX PCTG Prime · Manufacturer-listed applications

    These are explicit COEX applications. Toughness is valuable where a fixture is handled or knocked, while creep and printed layer strength remain relevant to accurate workholding.

Sources
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Representative catalog values. Check the exact grade and its linked conditions before using a setting.

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Properties & source data

56 documented fields

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

Material & market7 fields
PCTG — Identity & Market
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Base polymer / chemistryPoly(cyclohexylenedimethylene terephthalate) glycol — a copolyester with a higher cyclohexanedimethanol content than PETG
2 sources
Density (g/cm³)1.23 (Extrudr, ASTM D792; 3DXTech, ISO 1183)
2 sources
Typical price (USD/kg)1 kg spools cluster near 34
3 sources
Price range across brands (USD/kg)14–51 across brands; CHCKX 14 in a 10-roll bundle, Push Plastic 30, Proto-pasta 35 at 1 kg, 3DXTech 51
3 sources
Market availability (1–5)Available from several mainstream brands
4 sources
Spool sizes & diameters1.75 and 2.85 mm; 0.5, 0.75, 1, 3 and 5 kg spools
3 sources
Typical applicationsTransparent covers, guards and impact-loaded parts where PETG cracks
2 sources
Print settings10 fields
PCTG — Printing Parameters
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Nozzle temperature (°C)250–270 (Spectrum, Extrudr)
2 sources
Bed temperature (°C)60–100 (Spectrum)
1 source
Enclosure / chamber requirement (1–5)Open frame is fine — Spectrum and Extrudr both say a closed chamber is not necessary, Extrudr adds it helps on larger parts
2 sources
Part cooling fanUp to 100 % (Spectrum); 20–50 % (Extrudr)
2 sources
Bed surface & adhesion aidTextured PEI, satin or powder-coated sheets; on smooth PEI a glue stick acts as a release agent
2 sources
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions) (mm³/s)1.6–16 at the 20–200 mm/s Extrudr rates the material for, on a 0.4 mm nozzle at 0.2 mm layer
2 sources
Bed-adhesion difficulty (1–5)Needs the right surface or a thin adhesive — the problem is releasing the part, not sticking it
2 sources
Stringing / oozing tendency (1–5)Moderate — retraction tuning needed; Polymaker names stringing as PETG's common quirk
1 source
Shrinkage (%)0.2–0.5 (Extrudr, ASTM D955)
1 source
Overall printing difficulty (1–5)Easy — minor profile tuning
2 sources
Nozzle wear & reliability5 fields
PCTG — Hardware Wear & Reliability
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Nozzle hardness required (1–4)Brass fine indefinitely — Extrudr explicitly states no hardened nozzle is needed
1 source
Abrasiveness (1–5)Non-abrasive
1 source
Nozzle clog risk (1–5)Low — 3DXTech lists no special nozzle concerns and no minimum layer height for PCTG, only a 65 °C pre-dry
1 source
Heat-creep / jam sensitivity (1–5)Slightly sensitive
1 source
Hotend requirementNo special hot-end required
1 source
Moisture & drying4 fields
PCTG — Moisture Behaviour
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Moisture absorption (hygroscopicity) (1–5)Moderate (0.3–0.8 %) — the copolyester matrix reaches 0.40 % saturated at 25 °C / 55 % RH and 3DXTech specifies a 65 °C, 4 h pre-dry
2 sources
Symptoms when wetBubbling and popping at the nozzle, stringing and a rough surface
1 source
Effect of moisture on strengthPolymaker groups PETG with nylon, PVA and TPU as highly hygroscopic; no dry-versus-conditioned strength figures are published for this grade and the loss shows as bubbling and poor layer adhesion
1 source
Storage requirementSealed with desiccant; Polymaker groups PETG with the highly hygroscopic materials
2 sources
Strength & mechanical properties10 fields
PCTG — Mechanical Properties
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)43–44 at yield and 45–46 at break (ISO 527, injection-moulded resin data from Spectrum and Extrudr); 48 on My Tech Fun printed bars
3 sources
Elongation at break (%)215–220 at break on moulded specimens (ISO 527); 4.3–4.4 at yield
2 sources
Charpy impact, notched (kJ/m²)93–94 notched Izod at 23 °C on moulded specimens (ISO 180); 3DXTech quotes 8 by ISO 180/A
3 sources
Other impact dataIzod 4.14 kJ/m² on My Tech Fun printed bars, against 3.37 for PETG on the same rig
1 source
Layer adhesion / Z tensile (MPa)21.6 on My Tech Fun 4×4 mm printed bars, against 32.9 for PETG
1 source
Brittleness (1–5)Tough — absorbs impact, yields before breaking
2 sources
Hardness (scale-specific) (Shore A / Shore D / Rockwell)69 Shore D measured by My Tech Fun, against 72 for PETG
1 source
Creep resistance / sustained load (1–5)Below average — a 12 mm bar sagged to 19.4 mm over 5 days at 1.25 kg, slightly worse than PETG's 18.2
1 source
Fatigue / repeated-flex resistance (1–5)Good — 215 % elongation at break and 94 kJ/m² notched Izod on moulded specimens (Extrudr, Spectrum)
2 sources
Elasticity / flexibility (1–5)Slightly flexible in thin sections
1 source
Heat & temperature4 fields
PCTG — Thermal Properties
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)78 (3DXTech, DSC)
1 source
Melting point / Vicat (°C)Amorphous — no melting point; Vicat 88 (Spectrum, Extrudr)
2 sources
Continuous service temperature (°C)68 — loaded bars begin to move at this temperature, against 65 for PETG
1 source
Flammability / UL 94Flammable; no UL 94 rating published for standard grades
1 source
Weather & chemical resistance6 fields
PCTG — Environment & Chemical
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Chemical resistanceWithstands acids, alkalis, oils and UV exposure
1 source
Water / humidity resistance in service (1–5)Good — minor absorption; Spectrum describes the polymer as hydrophobic
1 source
Food contactNot certified for food contact as filament
1 source
Biodegradability / compostabilityNot biodegradable
1 source
RecyclabilityNot accepted in household plastic collection
1 source
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance above 10¹³ ohm/sq — insulating (3DXTech, ASTM D257)
1 source
Health & safety2 fields
PCTG — Health & Safety
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Fume toxicity (1–5)Moderate — measurable VOCs and UFPs, ventilation advised
1 source
Ventilation / filtration requirement (1–5)Open a window / occasional ventilation
1 source
Finishing & post-processing5 fields
PCTG — Post-Processing
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Sanding & machiningSands poorly — the material is tough and gums rather than powders
1 source
Gluing & solvent weldingCyanoacrylate; no common solvent welds PETG cleanly
1 source
Vapour / chemical smoothingNo practical vapour smoothing
1 source
Support material pairingPrints its own supports; Polymaker rates PolyDissolve S1 for PETG
1 source
Dimensional accuracy & detailOptical clarity is the selling point; Extrudr recommends a layer height at most 50 % of nozzle diameter
1 source
Solvents & solubility3 fields
PCTG — Solvents & Solubility
Property and unitPublished value and conditionsSources and dates
Soluble inNo common workshop solvent; Eastman's CHDM copolyester data shows 1,2-dichloroethane destroying it within a week.
1 source
Softened or crazed byAcetone, ethyl acetate, toluene and DMF swell and soften the copolyester; methanol crazes it (Eastman, 1 y at 23 °C).
1 source
Solvent welding & smoothing agentDichloromethane brushed on is the only agent that smooths PETG — a controlled carcinogen, not workshop stock.
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

Product listings and datasheets

5 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 5 products from 5 brands
CHCKXPCTG (10-roll bundle)14.00 USD/kg

$139.99 for 10 x 1 kg spools = $14.00/kg, Amazon US listing, Aug 2026 (list $159.99); sold only as the bundle

Ten colours, one kilogram each. Amazon-only brand.

Open product listing ↗
CHCKX PCTG (10-roll bundle) — product-specific figures
Spool sizes & diametersTen 1 kg spools, 10 kg total; 1.75 mm
Nozzle temperature (°C)220-260
Bed temperature (°C)50-70
Continuous service temperature (°C)85 heat resistance (method not stated)
Chemical resistanceResists oils, solvents, detergents, alcohols, mild acids, strong alkalis and hydrocarbons; acetone and strong acids soften it over time
Push PlasticPCTG29.99 USD/kg

$29.99 / 1 kg spool, pushplastic.com product catalogue, Aug 2026

Handle pctg-filament-1-75mm-1kg.

Open product listing ↗
Push Plastic PCTG — product-specific figures
Density (g/cm³)1.21 (ASTM D792)
Nozzle temperature (°C)235–250
Bed temperature (°C)80–100
Drying temperature & time60 °C for 4 h
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)35.9 at yield, 32.3 at break (printed XY, ASTM D638, 0.4 mm nozzle, 100 % infill)
Elongation at break (%)4.8 at break (printed XY, ASTM D638)
Flexural strength (MPa)64.8 (printed XY, ASTM D790)
Flexural modulus (MPa)1722 (printed XY, ASTM D790)
Other impact dataIzod 66.8 J/m (printed XY, ASTM D256)
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)108 (printed XY, ASTM D648; load not stated)
Proto-pastaClear PCTG34.99 USD/kg

$34.99 / 1 kg spool (500 g spool $19.99 = $39.98/kg), proto-pasta.com product catalogue, Aug 2026

Handle clear-pctg.

Open product listing ↗
Proto-pasta Clear PCTG — product-specific figures
Spool sizes & diameters50 g coil, 500 g and 1 kg spools; 1.75 mm
Nozzle temperature (°C)255–275
Bed temperature (°C)80 or above
Maximum volumetric flow (mm³/s; see test conditions) (mm³/s)2 or above at 255 °C
Drying temperature & timeDry below 65 °C
Coex 3DPCTG Prime38.00 USD/kg

$38.00 regular / 1 kg spool (listed at $30.00 on promotion), coex3d.com, Aug 2026

Selenis Mimesis PCTG. Figures are printed XY bars at 100 % infill; the 5.2 J/m notched Izod is unusually low for PCTG and is what the maker publishes.

Open product listing ↗
Coex 3D PCTG Prime — product-specific figures
Density (g/cm³)1.27 (ASTM D792)
Diameter tolerance (± mm)0.03
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)50 at yield (printed XY, 100 % infill, ASTM D638)
Young's modulus (MPa)2175 (printed XY, ASTM D638)
Elongation at break (%)84 (printed XY, ASTM D638)
Flexural strength (MPa)61 (printed XY, ISO 178)
Other impact data5.2 J/m notched Izod, ASTM D256 (printed XY)
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)71 (printed XY, ASTM D648)
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)80–85 (DSC)
3DXTechMAX-G PCTG50.67 USD/kg

$38.00 / 750 g spool = $50.67/kg, 3dxtech.com product catalogue, Aug 2026

Handle max-g-pctg-1. Density 1.23 g/cm³, Tg 78 °C, elongation at break 24 %.

Open product listing ↗
3DXTech MAX-G PCTG — product-specific figures
Density (g/cm³)1.23 (ISO 1183)
Nozzle temperature (°C)275 (TDS printed-specimen condition)
Bed temperature (°C)90 (TDS printed-specimen condition)
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)45 at break (printed XY, ISO 527)
Young's modulus (MPa)1755 (printed XY, ISO 527)
Elongation at break (%)24 at break (ISO 527)
Flexural strength (MPa)72 (printed XY, ISO 178)
Flexural modulus (MPa)1600 (printed XY, ISO 178)
Other impact dataIzod 8 kJ/m² (printed XY, ISO 180/A)
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)76 (ISO 75, 0.45 MPa)
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)78 (DSC)
Electrical & ESD propertiesSurface resistance >10^13 Ω/sq (ASTM D257)
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