Filament Atlas

PA12-CF

Carbon-Fiber-Reinforced Polyamide 12

15 products from 14 makers. Bambu Lab does not list this material for the H2C; its published process temperatures are within the printer's limits.

Tensile modulus (XY)
3.31GPa
0.210 (log)
5 products · middle half 1.97–8
Tensile strength (XY)
65MPa
0125
8 products · middle half 48.5–79.5
Tensile strength (Z)
33.1MPa
060
2 products · 14–52.2
Notched Charpy impact
16.3kJ/m²
150 (log)
4 products · middle half 13.7–17.8
HDT at 0.45 MPa
131°C
50300
7 products · middle half 111–160
Price
300CAD/kg
0300
one product

PA12-CF is a carbon-fibre-filled polyamide 12. Makers sell it for manufacturing tools and industrial parts that need strength, stiffness and dimensional stability, and they stress low warpage. It is semicrystalline, so it carries light load well above its glass transition: its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 131 °C. On the H2C some products need a hardened nozzle, and makers call for dry storage and drying at 65–110 °C, 4–16 h.

Partly documented Price rests on 1 product, tensile strength (Z) on 2 products and notched Charpy impact on 4 products. Each figure is the median of the products that publish it comparably, and beside it the middle half of them; a value on a test bar no document describes as printed, or with no stated test load, is set apart, except a heat deflection of a plastic that cannot crystallise, which its glass transition sets, unless its document points to a moulded or resin bar.

Nozzle
260⁠–⁠285 °C
most products that give one
Bed
90 °C
5 of 12 that give one
Heated chamber
25⁠–⁠50 °C
one product
Drying
65–110 °C, 4–16 h
12 of 15 products call for it; 2 more give it as optional
Nozzle type
hardened
6 of 15 products' sheets ask for one; the rest are silent

No product's setting is beyond the H2C's limits: nozzle 350 °C, bed 120 °C, heated chamber 65 °C.

Among the materials

Against PC-CF, PA12-CF is 29 % less stiff and 7 % weaker flat, and its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 4 °C higher. Against PET-CF, PA12-CF is 3.0 times as tough in notched impact, 35 % less stiff and 7 % weaker flat. Among the materials, PA12-CF has a high tensile strength (XY), notched Charpy impact and price, and a low density: each is in the top or bottom quarter of the materials that publish it. The rest of its key properties sit in the middle half.

Against its alternatives, PA12-CF has the highest notched Charpy impact and price and the lowest tensile modulus and tensile strength

How does it compare with what an engineer would buy instead?

  • PA12-CF: its products' median and middle half
  • an alternative
  • lowest to highest
  • each material's median (top row)
  • set apart: test bar not described as printed, or no stated load
All materials
PA12-CF15 products
PA128 products
PA12-GF3 products
PC-CF10 products
PET-CF8 products
PA6-CF14 products
Modulus (XY)GPa, log scale
Strength (XY)MPa
Strength (Z)MPa
Notched CharpykJ/m², log scale
HDT 0.45 MPa°C
PriceCAD/kg

Each row is a material, each column a property: the bar is the middle half of a material's products, the tick their median, the hairline their lowest to highest; the ticks above the rows are every material's median.

The figure as a table
MaterialModulus (XY) (GPa)Strength (XY) (MPa)Strength (Z) (MPa)Notched Charpy (kJ/m²)HDT 0.45 MPa (°C)Price (CAD/kg)
PA12-CF (this material)3.31 (1.97⁠–⁠8) · 565 (48.5⁠–⁠79.5) · 833.1 · 216.3 (13.7⁠–⁠17.8) · 4131 (111⁠–⁠160) · 7300 · 1
PA121.4⁠–⁠1.5 as published (6)45⁠–⁠60 as published (6)—7⁠–⁠14 as published (4)100⁠–⁠135 as published (4)183 · 2
PA12-GF7.8 · 182 · 1—16 as published (1)150 · 1247 · 1
PC-CF4.65 (2.98⁠–⁠6.39) · 470 (64⁠–⁠72) · 5—12 · 1128 (120⁠–⁠136) · 4152 · 1
PET-CF5.11 (4.45⁠–⁠6.36) · 470 (60.7⁠–⁠74.3) · 431.4 · 25.4 · 3124 (90⁠–⁠149) · 6113 · 3
PA6-CF4.37 (4.09⁠–⁠4.61) · 670 (62.3⁠–⁠104) · 848 · 313.4 · 3193 (185⁠–⁠202) · 6130 (113⁠–⁠160) · 4

Each cell is the median of the products ranked, its middle half in brackets, and how many.

How the numbers are worked out

Where PA12-CF sits among the 128 rigid materials on file

Where is it in the landscape: stiffness against strength, heat resistance against price?

  • PA12-CF: median, middle half as a cross
  • a PA12-CF product
  • an alternative
  • another material
  • beyond the scale

Tensile strength (XY) against tensile modulus (XY)

MPa, log scale

51020501002000.20.512510PA12-CFPA12-GF

Tensile modulus (XY), GPa, log scale

HDT at 0.45 MPa against price

°C

501001502002503002050100200500PA12-CFPA12-GFPC-CFPET-CFPA6-CF

Price, CAD/kg, log scale

Grey points are every other rigid material's medians; the alternatives are named.

The figure as a table
MaterialTensile modulus (XY)Tensile strength (XY)PriceHDT at 0.45 MPa
PA12-CF (this material)3.31 GPa · 565 MPa · 8300 CAD/kg · 1131 °C · 7
PA121.4⁠–⁠1.5 GPa as published45⁠–⁠60 MPa as published183 CAD/kg · 2100⁠–⁠135 °C as published
PA12-GF7.8 GPa · 182 MPa · 1247 CAD/kg · 1150 °C · 1
PC-CF4.65 GPa · 470 MPa · 5152 CAD/kg · 1128 °C · 4
PET-CF5.11 GPa · 470 MPa · 4113 CAD/kg · 3124 °C · 6
PA6-CF4.37 GPa · 670 MPa · 8130 CAD/kg · 4193 °C · 6

How the numbers are worked out

Mechanical properties

Printed flat (XY), PA12-CF typically reaches a tensile strength of 65 MPa at a modulus of 3.31 GPa, and breaks at 4.6 % elongation. In bending, its flexural strength is typically 93 MPa at a flexural modulus of 3.36 GPa.

PA12-CF's products spread most in tensile modulus: the middle half runs 1.97⁠–⁠8 GPa

How strong, stiff and tough are its products, and which stand out?

  • a product
  • set apart: test bar not described as printed, or no stated load
  • measured after annealing
  • middle half and median
Tensile strength (XY)MPa · 13 products, 8 in the median
Polymaker PolyMide PA12 CF0255075100125
Tensile modulus (XY)GPa, log scale · 9 products, 5 in the median
Raise3D Industrial PA12 CFSpectrum pa12 cf150.20.512510
Elongation at break (XY)%, log scale · 12 products, 8 in the median
3DXTECH CarbonX CF PA12125102050100200500
Notched Charpy impactscale 5–20 kJ/m², log · 6 products, 4 in the median
Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF1051020

One mark per product on each property's scale (zoomed where its products sit close together, as its label says); the band is the middle half of the products the median counts, and the line the median.

Hover or select a product to find it in every figure; its name opens its card on the Products page.

The figure as a table
PropertyIn the medianMedianMiddle halfLowest in the medianHighest in the medianAs publishedAdded filler or additive
Tensile strength (XY) (MPa)86548.5⁠–⁠79.5Polymaker PolyMide PA12 CF, 43.5Spectrum pa12 cf15, 12550
Tensile modulus (XY) (GPa)53.311.97⁠–⁠8Raise3D Industrial PA12 CF, 1.92Spectrum pa12 cf15, 840
Elongation at break (XY) (%)84.63.55⁠–⁠143DXTECH CarbonX CF PA12, 2.1Raise3D Industrial PA12 CF, 3440
Notched Charpy impact (kJ/m²)416.313.7⁠–⁠17.8Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF10, 9.9Raise3D Industrial PA12 CF, 1820

Every PA12-CF product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.

How the numbers are worked out

ProductTensile strength (Z)Notched Izod impactShore D hardness
SUNLU PA12-CFnot published11.3 kJ/m²not published
Eryone PA12-CF14 MPaZ (X-Z)not publishednot published
Polymaker FIBERON PA1252.2 MPaafter annealingnot publishednot published
Fillamentum Nylon CF15not publishednot published75 Shore D
Fiberlogy Nylon PA12+CF15not published15 kJ/m²not described as printednot published

Across the layers (Z), PA12-CF keeps 46 % of its flat strength and 55 % of its flat stiffness

What does a printed part lose across the layers (Z) against flat (XY), and is that usual?

  • a product
  • measured after annealing
  • equal share: 100, 75, 50 and 25 %
  • PA12-CF's median share
  • an alternative

Tensile strength

Z keeps 46 % of XY, median of 2 products

020406080020406080100 %75 %50 %25 %

flat (XY), MPa

0 %50 %100 %

Share kept: PA6-CF 49 % · PA12-CF 46 % · PET-CF 45 %

Tensile modulus

Z keeps 55 % of XY, median of 1 product

0123401234100 %75 %50 %25 %

flat (XY), GPa

0 %50 %100 %

Share kept: PET-CF 55 % · PA12-CF 55 % · PA6-CF 46 %

Elongation at break

Z keeps 106 % of XY, median of 2 products

012345012345100 %75 %50 %25 %

flat (XY), %

0 %50 %100 %

Share kept: PA12-CF 106 % · PA6-CF 77 % · PET-CF 43 %

Each point is a product that publishes both from one sheet: below the 100 % ray it keeps less across the layers than flat. Under each plot, the median share its alternatives' products keep.

The figure as a table
ProductPropertyFlat (XY)Across (Z)Z as a share of XY
Eryone PA12-CFTensile strength58 MPa14 MPa, Z (X-Z)24 %
Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF10Tensile strength77.4 MPa52.2 MPa67 %
Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF10Tensile modulus3.31 GPa1.81 GPa55 %
Polymaker PolyMide PA12 CFElongation at break3.57 %3.29 %92 %
Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF10Elongation at break4.2 %5 %119 %
PET-CF (alternative)Tensile strength45 % · 2
PA6-CF (alternative)Tensile strength49 % · 3
PET-CF (alternative)Tensile modulus55 % · 2
PA6-CF (alternative)Tensile modulus46 % · 2
PET-CF (alternative)Elongation at break43 % · 2
PA6-CF (alternative)Elongation at break77 % · 2

How the numbers are worked out

Flat and across the layers, property by property

Flat and across the layers

PropertyPrinted flat (XY)Across the layers (Z)Z as a share of XY
MedianProductsMedianProducts
Tensile strength MPa6548.5⁠–⁠79.5833.12
Tensile modulus GPa3.311.97⁠–⁠851.811
Elongation at break %4.63.55⁠–⁠1484.142
Flexural strength MPa9379.5⁠–⁠119872.42
Flexural modulus GPa3.362.67⁠–⁠4.4581.582

The middle half of the products under each median. The share is each product's Z value as a part of its XY value, from one sheet and one state, and the median of those shares. How XY and Z differ.

Thermal properties

PA12-CF's HDT is typically 131 °C under 0.45 MPa and 105⁠–⁠150 °C under 1.8 MPa, with its glass transition typically at 55 °C. Semicrystalline, it carries light load well above its glass transition. As published, Vicat softening is typically 170 °C and melting typically 171 °C.

Most PA12-CF products deflect at 111⁠–⁠160 °C under 0.45 MPa

Where do its products soften under load?

  • a product
  • set apart: test bar not described as printed, or no stated load
  • measured after annealing
  • middle half and median
  • beyond the scale
HDT at 0.45 MPa°C · 10 products, 7 in the median
Raise3D Industrial PA12 CF50100150200250300
Glass transition (Tg)scale 50–100 °C · 4 products, all in the median
Polymaker PolyMide PA12 CFSUNLU PA12-CF5060708090100
The figure as a table
PropertyIn the medianMedianMiddle halfLowest in the medianHighest in the medianAs publishedAdded filler or additive
HDT at 0.45 MPa (°C)7131111⁠–⁠160Raise3D Industrial PA12 CF, 90SUNLU PA12-CF, 17530
Glass transition (Tg) (°C)45555⁠–⁠66Polymaker PolyMide PA12 CF, 54SUNLU PA12-CF, 9900

Every PA12-CF product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.

How the numbers are worked out

ProductHDT at 1.8 MPa
Polymaker PolyMide CF105 °Cafter annealing
Spectrum pa12 cf15150 °C
Polymaker FIBERON CF10105 °Cafter annealing
BigRep PA12 CF45 °Cnot described as printed
Fabru Polyamid 12160 °Cnot described as printed
Fiberlogy Nylon PA12+CF15150 °Cnot described as printed

Printing on the H2C

PA12-CF prints within the H2C's limits and softens near 131 °C, above its 65 °C chamber

What does printing it on the H2C take, and how hot can a part get?

  • share of the products that accept each temperature
  • what most products accept
  • the H2C's limit, and beyond it
  • a product
  • PA12-CF: its products' median and middle half
  • as published, under each sheet's own test

Printing it on the H2C

Nozzle260⁠–⁠285 °C, accepted by most of the 13 products that give a window · the H2C reaches 350 °C
Bed12 of 15 products give a window · the H2C reaches 120 °C
Heated chamber1 of 15 products gives a window; 4 need none · the H2C reaches 65 °C
Drying65⁠–⁠110 °C, 4⁠–⁠16 h, 14 products

In service

Glass transition (Tg)4 products
55 °C
HDT at 1.8 MPa3 products
105 °C
HDT at 0.45 MPa7 products
131 °C
Vicat softening temperature3 products, as published
145⁠–⁠170 °C
Melting temperature6 products, as published
160⁠–⁠190 °C

°C

One temperature axis for the settings a print needs and the temperatures a part meets. A setting's shade is how many of the products whose sheets give a window accept each degree; the H2C's limit closes its row.

The figure as a table
Setting or propertyMost products, or the medianProductsH2C limit
Nozzle260⁠–⁠285 °C13350 °C
Bed25⁠–⁠50 °C; 40⁠–⁠50 °C; 40⁠–⁠60 °C; 60⁠–⁠70 °C; 60⁠–⁠90 °C; 70 °C; 80⁠–⁠100 °C; 80⁠–⁠105 °C; 90⁠–⁠110 °C; 90⁠–⁠110 °C; 100⁠–⁠120 °C; 110 °C12120 °C
Heated chamber25⁠–⁠50 °C165 °C
Drying65⁠–⁠110 °C, 4⁠–⁠16 h14—
Glass transition (Tg)55 °C (55⁠–⁠66 °C)4—
HDT at 1.8 MPa105 °C3—
HDT at 0.45 MPa131 °C (111⁠–⁠160 °C)7—
Vicat softening temperature145⁠–⁠170 °C3—
Melting temperature160⁠–⁠190 °C6—

Windows read from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide are not shaded: the guide speaks for every product that reads it.

How the numbers are worked out

SettingMost PA12-CF products
Nozzle260⁠–⁠285 °C most products that give one
Bed90 °C 5 of 12 that give one
Heated chamber25⁠–⁠50 °C one product
Drying65⁠–⁠110 °C, 4⁠–⁠16 h 12 of 15 products call for it; 2 more give it as optional
Nozzle typehardened 6 of 15 products' sheets ask for one; the rest are silent

Where a product's own sheet is silent, its setting comes from a sheet it shares or from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide; each product's card says which.

Hardened nozzle. Six products need one: Polymaker PolyMide PA12 CF, Spectrum pa12 cf15, Extrudr DURAPRO PA12 CF, Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF10, Raise3D Industrial PA12 CF and Fillamentum Nylon CF15 Carbon.

After printing

Three products publish values measured after annealing, on schedules from 80 °C for 24 h to 100 °C.

What makers say about printing it

Warping and shrinkage

  • PA12 CF15 is an advanced technical filament reinforced with 15% carbon fibers, offering exceptional strength, rigidity and dimensional stability. Spectrum pa12 cf15, data sheet, p. 1

Nozzle wear

More from makers: moisture sensitivity, printing advice, supports and removal and odour and emissions

Moisture sensitivity

  • Fiberon™ PA12-CF10 is sensitive to moisture and should always be stored and used under dry conditions (relative humidity below 20%). Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF10, data sheet, p. 1

Printing advice

  • Additionally, a nozzle diameter of at least 0.6 mm should be used to prevent clogging and ensure smooth extrusion. Extrudr DURAPRO PA12 CF, data sheet, p. 2

Supports and removal

  • If PA12 CF is used as the support material for itself, please remove the support structure after annealing. Raise3D Industrial PA12 CF, data sheet, p. 2

Odour and emissions

Products

15 products from 14 makers; the most from Polymaker (2).

These are published values, not recommendations: the selector judges each product against your requirements.

Compare the 15 products

Uses, limitations and chemicals

What it is sold for

What makers warn about

Finish and accuracy
  • With low water absorption and easier printing, the printed parts exhibit higher dimensional accuracy Eryone PA12-CF, data sheet, p. 1
  • High dimensionally stable precision parts with low warpage and narrow tolerance range. iSANMATE PA12CF, data sheet, p. 1

Chemicals and environment

ExposureWhat makers say
Acid resistanceNot resistant, in both statements
Alkali resistanceMixed, 2 statements disagree
Organic solvent resistanceNot resistant, in its one statement
Oil and grease resistanceResistant, in its one statement

Makers rarely give the concentration, temperature or duration: treat them as indications, not design data. Each product's statements are on its card.

Where no maker of these products speaks to an exposure, reference data for plain PA12 resin is shown. Fillers, pigments and printing change it, so it does not stand for these products.

PA12 resinVerdictAgents
Hydrolytic stabilitylimitedWater or aqueous solutions at high temperature (limited) and Hot water or moist air at higher temperatures (limited)
UV and outdoorlimitedUV / weathering, unstabilised (stabilised required)
Flammabilitynot resistantFlammability of VESTAMID compounds (not resistant)

Density and price

PA12-CF's density is typically 1,070 kg/m³, the middle half 1,060⁠–⁠1,080 kg/m³, across 13 products. One product has a sampled price: 3DXTECH CarbonX CF PA12 at 300 CAD/kg. Voxel Factory lists Polymaker FIBERON PA12 CF10, out of stock when sampled, with no regular price recorded.

ProductPrice
3DXTECH CarbonX CF PA12300 CAD/kg

Regular prices, never sale prices, from 9 Canadian shops and 10 foreign shops, sampled 10 Sep–20 Oct 2026, not live; shipping and tax are not included.

Other properties, as published

14 more properties are published, each under its own sheet's test conditions, so they are listed, not ranked.

The 14 properties, lowest to highest
PropertyProductsLowest–highest
Fibre content1110⁠–⁠30 %
Melt mass-flow rate83⁠–⁠25 g/10 min
Water absorption40.1⁠–⁠1.6 %
Continuous service temperature3100⁠–⁠120 °C
Decomposition temperature2330⁠–⁠445 °C
Elongation at yield24⁠–⁠4.5 %
Impact strength, test unclear216.4⁠–⁠86.2 kJ/m²
Mould shrinkage20.2⁠–⁠0.7 %
Surface resistivity2100⁠–⁠1 × 10¹² Ω
Crystallization temperature1130 °C
Dielectric strength125 kV/mm
Hardness182 Shore (scale not specified by source)
Melt volume-flow rate17 cm³/10 min
Moisture content10.6 %

Sources

38 documents from 15 publishers (21 data sheets, 14 makers' product pages and guides, 2 safety data sheets and 1 printer document), read 10 Sep–19 Oct 2026. Each value on PA12-CF's Products page names its document and page, and links to the original.

Bambu Lab, H2C Filamant Printing Guide (the H2C's printer guide): print settings for 15 products.

Every document (38), by publisher
PublisherDocumentsValuesProducts
Polymaker6542
3DXTECH591
Extrudr4141
Fiberlogy3221
Spectrum3201
Fillamentum3101
Fabru381
Raise3D2331
SUNLU2251
MatterHackers281
iSANMATE1181
SIDDAMENT1131
and 2 more publishers, with 2 documents