Filament Atlas
Open in the selectorSelector

PET

Polyethylene Terephthalate

7 products from 4 makers. Bambu Lab lists PET as a material type for the H2C; the listing covers the type, not each brand.

Tensile modulus (XY)
2.25GPa
0.210 (log)
2 products · 2.08–2.41
Tensile strength (XY)
58.4MPa
0125
2 products · 52.6–64.2
Not published:
tensile strength (Z).
Notched Charpy impact
1.2kJ/m²
150 (log)
one product
HDT at 0.45 MPa
89°C
50300
one product
Price
115CAD/kg
0300
one product

PET is polyethylene terephthalate. Makers sell it for protective parts, bumpers and covers and for large objects with fine detail, and they stress its low tendency to warp. Its glass transition is 70 °C. On the H2C it prints at 240–250 °C, and some sheets say no heated chamber is needed.

Partly documented Notched Charpy impact, HDT at 0.45 MPa and price rest on 1 product each, tensile modulus (XY) and tensile strength (XY) on 2 products each and tensile strength (Z) is not published. 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. Products with an added filler or additive are shown but kept out of the medians.

On the H2C

Printing in full
Nozzle
240⁠–⁠250 °C
most products that give one
Bed
80⁠–⁠85 °C
most products that give one
Heated chamber
none needed
3 of 7 products
Drying
45–80 °C, 6–8 h
3 of 7 products call for it
Nozzle type
standard
1 says a standard nozzle is enough; 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 PET-CF, PET is 56 % less stiff and 17 % weaker flat. Against PET-GF, PET is 46 % less stiff and 18 % weaker flat. Among the materials, PET has a high density and a low notched Charpy impact: both are in the top or bottom quarter of the materials that publish them. The rest of its key properties sit in the middle half.

Against its alternatives, PET has the lowest notched Charpy impact

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

  • PET: its products' median and middle half
  • an alternative
  • lowest to highest
  • each material's median (top row)
All materials
PET7 products
PET-CF8 products
PET-GF4 products
PETG72 products
ABS55 products
PC21 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)
PET (this material)2.25 · 258.4 · 2—1.2 · 189 · 1115 · 1
PET-CF5.11 (4.45⁠–⁠6.36) · 470 (60.7⁠–⁠74.3) · 431.4 · 25.4 · 3124 (90⁠–⁠149) · 6113 · 3
PET-GF4.13 · 370.9 (68.1⁠–⁠72.3) · 434 · 36.56 · 1120 · 369 · 2
PETG1.69 (1.42⁠–⁠1.95) · 2447 (40.3⁠–⁠50.6) · 3430.2 (28⁠–⁠36.5) · 166 (4.76⁠–⁠8) · 1070 (69⁠–⁠71) · 3226 (25⁠–⁠32) · 11
ABS2.2 (2.02⁠–⁠2.25) · 1334.5 (33⁠–⁠35.6) · 1827.3 (24.6⁠–⁠28.3) · 1220 (18⁠–⁠21.5) · 795 (89⁠–⁠99) · 1840 (31⁠–⁠52) · 9
PC2.15 (2.02⁠–⁠2.41) · 1260 (54.2⁠–⁠65.3) · 1546 (35.9⁠–⁠52.3) · 69.75 (6.65⁠–⁠14.3) · 4123 (113⁠–⁠139) · 1551 (45⁠–⁠67) · 5

PET publishes no tensile strength (Z).

How the numbers are worked out

Where PET sits among the 128 rigid materials on file

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

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

Tensile strength (XY) against tensile modulus (XY)

MPa, log scale

51020501002000.20.512510PETPET-CFPET-GFPETGABSPC

Tensile modulus (XY), GPa, log scale

HDT at 0.45 MPa against price

°C

501001502002503002050100200500PETPET-CFPET-GFPETGABSPC

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
PET (this material)2.25 GPa · 258.4 MPa · 2115 CAD/kg · 189 °C · 1
PET-CF5.11 GPa · 470 MPa · 4113 CAD/kg · 3124 °C · 6
PET-GF4.13 GPa · 370.9 MPa · 469 CAD/kg · 2120 °C · 3
PETG1.69 GPa · 2447 MPa · 3426 CAD/kg · 1170 °C · 32
ABS2.2 GPa · 1334.5 MPa · 1840 CAD/kg · 995 °C · 18
PC2.15 GPa · 1260 MPa · 1551 CAD/kg · 5123 °C · 15

How the numbers are worked out

Mechanical properties

Printed flat (XY), PET typically reaches a tensile strength of 58.4 MPa at a modulus of 2.25 GPa, and breaks at 7.8 % elongation. In bending, its flexural strength is typically 91.1 MPa at a flexural modulus of 2.3 GPa.

ProductTensile strength (XY)Tensile modulus (XY)Elongation at break (XY)Notched Charpy impactNotched Izod impactShore D hardness
FormFutura High Precision59.4 MPanot described as printed2.56 GPanot described as printed5.2 %not described as printed1.7 kJ/m²not described as printednot published75.3 Shore D
Spectrum ecoPET 902155 MPanot described as printed3 GPanot described as printednot publishednot publishednot publishednot published
colorFabb PRO52.6 MPa2.08 GPa8.6 %1.2 kJ/m²not publishednot published
colorFabb ULTRA64.2 MPa2.41 GPa7 %not publishednot publishednot published
colorFabb PET Flex Max19.5 MPa0.442 GPa418 %not publishednot publishednot published
3D4Makers Facilan HT62 MPanot described as printed2.1 GPanot described as printednot publishednot published3 kJ/m²not described as printed76 Shore D
FormFutura EasyFil PET74 MPanot described as printed2.5 GPanot described as printed4 %not described as printednot publishednot publishednot published

Not published for PET: strength across the layers.

Thermal properties

Its products put HDT at 89 °C under 0.45 MPa, against a glass transition of 70⁠–⁠100 °C. As published, Vicat softening is 66 °C, from one product.

ProductHDT at 0.45 MPaHDT at 1.8 MPaGlass transition (Tg)
FormFutura High Precisionnot published66 °Cnot described as printed70 °C
colorFabb PET ULTRA68 °Cnot described as printednot publishednot published
3D4Makers Facilan HT89 °Cnot published100 °C
FormFutura EasyFil PETnot publishednot published70 °C

Printing on the H2C

PET prints within the H2C's limits and softens near 89 °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
  • one end given ("at least")
  • the H2C's limit, and beyond it
  • a product
  • PET: its products' median and middle half
  • as published, under each sheet's own test

Printing it on the H2C

Nozzle240⁠–⁠250 °C, accepted by most of the 6 products that give a window · the H2C reaches 350 °C
Bed80⁠–⁠85 °C, accepted by most of the 5 products that give a window; 1 gives one end only · the H2C reaches 120 °C
Heated chambernone needed by 3 of 7 · the H2C reaches 65 °C
Drying45⁠–⁠80 °C, 6⁠–⁠8 h, 2 products

In service

Vicat softening temperature1 product, as published
66 °C
Glass transition (Tg)3 products
70 °C
HDT at 0.45 MPa1 product
89 °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
Nozzle240⁠–⁠250 °C6350 °C
Bed80⁠–⁠85 °C5120 °C
Heated chamber—065 °C
Drying45⁠–⁠80 °C, 6⁠–⁠8 h2—
Vicat softening temperature66 °C1—
Glass transition (Tg)70 °C3—
HDT at 0.45 MPa89 °C1—

No PET product gives a heated chamber window. 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 PET products
Nozzle240⁠–⁠250 °C most products that give one
Bed80⁠–⁠85 °C most products that give one
Heated chambernone needed 3 of 7 products
Drying45⁠–⁠80 °C, 6⁠–⁠8 h 3 of 7 products call for it
Nozzle typestandard 1 says a standard nozzle is enough; 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.

What makers say about printing it

Moisture sensitivity

Printing advice

  • The material can be processed within an exceptionally wide temperature range of 200–300°C , including at relatively low printing temperatures. colorFabb PET Flex Max, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
  • Advised 3d print speed 150mm/s (12mm³/s) colorFabb PET Flex Max, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
  • Cooling fan 100% colorFabb PET Flex Max, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
  • This wide processing window makes the filament suitable for various printers, hotends and printing conditions. colorFabb PET Flex Max, maker's product page or guide, p. 1

Nozzle wear

More from makers: warping and shrinkage and adhesion between layers

Warping and shrinkage

  • It 3D prints with almost no warping. FormFutura EasyFil PET, data sheet, p. 1
  • Combined with its low tendency to warp , PET FLEX MAX makes demanding flexible and impact-resistant parts easier to produce. colorFabb PET Flex Max, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
  • Its very low tendency to warp helps maintain dimensional accuracy, including when printing larger components and geometries where deformation can otherwise become problematic. colorFabb PET HIGH SPEED PRO, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
  • Minimal warping and easy printability colorFabb PET HIGH SPEED PRO, maker's product page or guide, p. 1

Adhesion between layers

Products

7 products from 4 makers; the most from colorFabb (3) and FormFutura (2).

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

Compare the 7 products

Uses, limitations and chemicals

What it is sold for

What makers warn about

Finish and accuracy
  • In addition to its mechanical and processing benefits, PET HIGH SPEED PRO produces an attractive high-gloss finish . colorFabb PET HIGH SPEED PRO, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
  • high surface quality after printing Spectrum ecoPET 9021, data sheet, p. 1
  • This unique set of properties translates to a PET filament that enables you to 3D print accurate parts with improved strength and mechanical properties. FormFutura EasyFil PET, data sheet, p. 1
  • Its excellent processing behaviour enables high printing speeds while maintaining consistent extrusion, dimensional accuracy and a high-quality surface finish. colorFabb PET HIGH SPEED PRO, maker's product page or guide, p. 1

Chemicals and environment

ExposureWhat makers say
UV and outdoorDescribed in words, with no rating, 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 PET resin is shown. Fillers, pigments and printing change it, so it does not stand for these products.

PET resinVerdictAgents
Acid resistanceresistantHydrochloric Acid (10%) (resistant) and Sulfuric Acid (10%) (resistant)
Alkali resistancenot resistantSodium Hydroxide (10%) (not resistant) and Ammonium Hydroxide (10%) (limited)
Organic solvent resistancelimitedAcetone (limited), Ethanol (resistant), Toluene (resistant) and Methylene Chloride (not resistant)
Oil and grease resistanceresistantUnleaded Gasoline (resistant), Diesel Fuel (resistant) and Ford Motor Oil (resistant)
Hydrolytic stabilitynot resistantHot water (not resistant)

Density and price

PET's density is typically 1,340 kg/m³, the middle half 1,320⁠–⁠1,350 kg/m³, across 4 products. One product has a sampled price: Spectrum ecoPET 9021 at 115 CAD/kg.

ProductPrice
Spectrum ecoPET 9021115 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

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

The 5 properties, lowest to highest
PropertyProductsLowest–highest
Elongation at yield32.9⁠–⁠7 %
Melt mass-flow rate347⁠–⁠178 g/10 min
Flexural elongation at break12.4 %
Tensile strain at strength12.2 %
Water absorption10.3 %

Sources

16 documents from 5 publishers (8 makers' product pages and guides, 7 data sheets and 1 printer document), read 10 Sep–19 Oct 2026. Each value on PET'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 7 products.

Every document (16), by publisher
PublisherDocumentsValuesProducts
colorFabb6203
FormFutura4232
Spectrum391
3D4Makers2111