PVA
Polyvinyl Alcohol
A support material, 11 products from 9 makers. Bambu Lab sells its own filament of this material for the H2C.
- Tensile modulus (XY)
- 1.8GPa
- one product
- Tensile strength (XY)
- 44MPa
- 2 products · 23–65
- Not published:
- tensile strength (Z).
- Notched Charpy impact
- 1.6–1.7kJ/m²
- as published · test bar not described as printed
- HDT at 0.45 MPa
- 55°C
- 2 products · 55
- Price
- 121CAD/kg
- 3 products · 102–212
PVA is polyvinyl alcohol, a water-soluble support material. A maker sells it as support for complex multi-extrusion printing, and Prusa's knowledge base calls it very hygroscopic. On the H2C it prints at 200–205 °C and makers advise drying at 45–80 °C, 8–12 h. A maker warns that it deteriorates or crystallises if it waits too long in the hot support nozzle.
Partly documented Tensile modulus (XY) rests on 1 product, tensile strength (XY) and HDT at 0.45 MPa on 2 products each, price on 3 products, tensile strength (Z) is not published and notched Charpy impact is published only on test bars no document describes as printed. 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.
On the H2C
Printing in full- Nozzle
- 200–205 °C
- most products that give one
- Bed
- 35–60 °C
- most products that give one
- Heated chamber
- 25–40 °C
- both that give one
- Drying
- 45–80 °C, 8–12 h
- 6 of 11 products call for it; 1 more gives it as optional
- Nozzle type
- not stated
No product's setting is beyond the H2C's limits: nozzle 350 °C, bed 120 °C, heated chamber 65 °C.
Among the materials
Against PLA, PVA is 3.6 times as expensive. Against PETG, PVA is 4.7 times as expensive and 6 % weaker flat, and its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 15 °C lower. Among the materials, PVA has a high elongation at break (XY) and a low tensile modulus (XY) and HDT at 0.45 MPa: 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.
PVA costs more than PLA, PETG and ABS and others but softens 4–40 °C lower than PETG, ABS and PP
How does it compare with what an engineer would buy instead?
- PVA: 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
- beyond the scale
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
| Material | Modulus (XY) (GPa) | Strength (XY) (MPa) | Strength (Z) (MPa) | Notched Charpy (kJ/m²) | HDT 0.45 MPa (°C) | Price (CAD/kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVA (this material) | 1.8 · 1 | 44 · 2 | — | 1.6–1.7 as published (2) | 55 · 2 | 121 · 3 |
| PLA | 2.58 (2–2.88) · 61 | 45 (39.5–53) · 83 | 30.3 (22.1–34) · 40 | 6 (3.97–7.9) · 14 | 56 (53–58) · 50 | 33 (28–40) · 27 |
| PETG | 1.69 (1.42–1.95) · 24 | 47 (40.3–50.6) · 34 | 30.2 (28–36.5) · 16 | 6 (4.76–8) · 10 | 70 (69–71) · 32 | 26 (25–32) · 11 |
| ABS | 2.2 (2.02–2.25) · 13 | 34.5 (33–35.6) · 18 | 27.3 (24.6–28.3) · 12 | 20 (18–21.5) · 7 | 95 (89–99) · 18 | 40 (31–52) · 9 |
| PCL | 0.35 as published (2) | 45 · 1 | — | — | 57 · 1 | 234 · 1 |
| PP | 1.2–1.4 as published (2) | 19 · 1 | — | 65 as published (1) | 59 · 1 | 77 · 2 |
PVA publishes no tensile strength (Z). Its notched Charpy impact states no orientation, so it is drawn as published.
Where PVA sits among the 128 rigid materials on file
Where is it in the landscape: stiffness against strength, heat resistance against price?
- PVA: median, middle half as a cross
- a PVA product
- an alternative
- another material
- beyond the scale
Tensile strength (XY) against tensile modulus (XY)
MPa, log scale
Tensile modulus (XY), GPa, log scale
HDT at 0.45 MPa against price
°C
Price, CAD/kg, log scale
Grey points are every other rigid material's medians; the alternatives are named.
The figure as a table
| Material | Tensile modulus (XY) | Tensile strength (XY) | Price | HDT at 0.45 MPa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVA (this material) | 1.8 GPa · 1 | 44 MPa · 2 | 121 CAD/kg · 3 | 55 °C · 2 |
| PLA | 2.58 GPa · 61 | 45 MPa · 83 | 33 CAD/kg · 27 | 56 °C · 50 |
| PETG | 1.69 GPa · 24 | 47 MPa · 34 | 26 CAD/kg · 11 | 70 °C · 32 |
| ABS | 2.2 GPa · 13 | 34.5 MPa · 18 | 40 CAD/kg · 9 | 95 °C · 18 |
| PCL | 0.35 GPa as published | 45 MPa · 1 | 234 CAD/kg · 1 | 57 °C · 1 |
| PP | 1.2–1.4 GPa as published | 19 MPa · 1 | 77 CAD/kg · 2 | 59 °C · 1 |
Mechanical properties
Printed flat (XY), PVA typically reaches a tensile strength of 44 MPa at a modulus of 1.8 GPa, and breaks at 111 % elongation.
| Product | Tensile strength (XY) | Tensile modulus (XY) | Elongation at break (XY) | Notched Charpy impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUNLU PVA | 23 MPa | not published | 215 % | not published |
| Yousu PVA | 23.4 MPanot described as printed | not published | 1.9 %not described as printed | not published |
| FormFutura AquaSolve - | 78 MPanot described as printed | 3.86 GPanot described as printed | 9.9 %not described as printed | 1.6 kJ/m²not described as printed |
| Flashforge PVA | 65 MPa | 1.8 GPa | 7 % | not published |
| Fabru Polyvinyl alcohol | 28.5 MPanot described as printed | not published | not published | not published |
| Raise3D Premium PVA+ | not published | 3.5 GPanot described as printed | not published | not published |
| FormFutura Atlas Support | not published | 3.5 GPanot described as printed | not published | 1.7 kJ/m²not described as printed |
Not published for PVA: strength across the layers.
Thermal properties
Its products put HDT at 55 °C under 0.45 MPa, against a glass transition of 57 °C. As published, Vicat softening is typically 60 °C and melting typically 175 °C.
| Product | HDT at 0.45 MPa | Glass transition (Tg) |
|---|---|---|
| SUNLU PVA | 55 °C | not published |
| Yousu PVA | not published | 57 °C |
| Flashforge PVA | 55 °C | not published |
Not published for PVA: HDT at 1.8 MPa.
Printing on the H2C
PVA softens near 55 °C, below the H2C's 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
- PVA: its products' median and middle half
- as published, under each sheet's own test
Printing it on the H2C
In service
°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 property | Most products, or the median | Products | H2C limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 200–205 °C | 11 | 350 °C |
| Bed | 35–60 °C | 9 | 120 °C |
| Heated chamber | 25–40 °C; 25–45 °C | 2 | 65 °C |
| Drying | 45–80 °C, 8–12 h | 4 | — |
| HDT at 0.45 MPa | 55 °C | 2 | — |
| Glass transition (Tg) | 57 °C | 1 | — |
| Vicat softening temperature | 59–65 °C | 5 | — |
| Melting temperature | 160–215 °C | 4 | — |
Windows read from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide are not shaded: the guide speaks for every product that reads it.
| Setting | Most PVA products |
|---|---|
| Nozzle | 200–205 °C most products that give one |
| Bed | 35–60 °C most products that give one |
| Heated chamber | 25–40 °C both that give one |
| Drying | 45–80 °C, 8–12 h 6 of 11 products call for it; 1 more gives it as optional |
| Nozzle type | not stated |
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
Supports and removal
It is recommended to set the distance between the support and the model to 0, Slow down and turn off the fan for the first layer to bond well with the main material.
eSUN PVA, data sheet, p. 2
Moisture sensitivity
It is recommended to work with eBOX(3D filament dryer) in printing.
eSUN PVA, data sheet, p. 2
On PVA in general
- Very hygroscopic; moisture control and drying are essential. Moisture after Prusa Research, Water soluble (BVOH/PVA) | Prusa Knowledge Base
More from makers: printing advice, odour and emissions and adhesion between layers
Printing advice
You need to print PolyDissolve™ S1 very slowly - we recommend no higher than 60mm/s or 8mm^3/s max volumetric speed.
Polymaker PolyDissolve S1, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
Odour and emissions
AquaSolve™ PVA has a limited smell during printing and is non-toxic and biodegradable once dissolved in water.
FormFutura AquaSolve - PVA, data sheet, p. 1
Adhesion between layers
Good bonding to PETG-based materials and other (thermo)plastics that print within a similar temperature range
FormFutura Atlas Support, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
Products
11 products from 9 makers; the most from FormFutura (3).
- Most documented: Flashforge PVA, with values for more properties than any other.
- Lowest price: Bambu Lab PVA, 102 CAD/kg.
These are published values, not recommendations: the selector judges each product against your requirements.
Uses, limitations and chemicals
What it is sold for
Atlas Support is a water-soluble PVA type of 3D printer filament that is ideal as support material for complex multi-extrusion 3D printing with PETG based filaments as build material.
FormFutura Atlas Support, maker's product page or guide, p. 1Improved thermal stability, resulting in less risk on deterioration/crystalizing inside the nozzle
FormFutura Atlas Support, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
What makers warn about
The printing temperature should not exceed 225˚C for over 5 min.
Raise3D Premium PVA+, data sheet, p. 2Though it is possible to use PolyDissolve™ S1 with a single nozzle, it is not recommended due to increase chances of clogging when swapping materials.
Polymaker PolyDissolve S1, maker's product page or guide, p. 1Printing with PVA materials does require a certain level of 3D printing expertise as PVA cannot stay too long in the hot secondary/support nozzle and needs to flow and by that needs expert tweaking to find the optimal “waiting temperature” for the material not to deteriorate/crystalizing in the hot secondary/support nozzle when not being 3D printed.
FormFutura Atlas Support, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
1 more
- Residual model polymer can prevent complete dissolution. H2C route rules take precedence over generic printer advice. after Prusa Research, Water soluble (BVOH/PVA) | Prusa Knowledge Base
Chemicals and environment
| Exposure | What makers say |
|---|---|
| Flammability | Flammable, in its one statement |
| Water solubility | Soluble, in 1 of 2 statements; the other gives no rating |
| Acid resistance | Not resistant, in its one statement |
| Alkali resistance | Not resistant, in its one statement |
| Organic solvent resistance | Limited, in its one statement |
| Oil and grease resistance | Limited, in its one statement |
What guides and references say of PVA in general (1)
- Water-soluble supports allow access to complex internal geometries. Water solubility after Prusa Research, Water soluble (BVOH/PVA) | Prusa Knowledge Base
Makers rarely give the concentration, temperature or duration: treat them as indications, not design data. Each product's statements are on its card.
Density and price
PVA's density is typically 1,250 kg/m³, the middle half 1,220–1,250 kg/m³, across 11 products. PVA typically costs 121 CAD/kg, across the 3 products with a regular price in the sample; the lowest is Bambu Lab PVA at 102 CAD/kg.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Bambu Lab PVA | 102 CAD/kg |
| Raise3D Premium PVA+ | 212 CAD/kg |
| Polymaker PolyDissolve S1 | 121 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
3 more properties are published, each under its own sheet's test conditions, so they are listed, not ranked.
The 3 properties, lowest to highest
| Property | Products | Lowest–highest |
|---|---|---|
| Melt mass-flow rate | 10 | 2.3–60 g/10 min |
| Water absorption | 2 | 6.25–15 % |
| Decomposition temperature | 1 | 300 °C |
Sources
19 documents from 10 publishers (11 data sheets, 7 makers' product pages and guides and 1 printer document), read 10 Sep–19 Oct 2026. Each value on PVA'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 11 products.
Every document (19), by publisher
| Publisher | Documents | Values | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| FormFutura | 6 | 15 | 3 |
| SUNLU | 2 | 8 | 1 |
| Raise3D | 2 | 6 | 1 |
| Polymaker | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Flashforge | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| Yousu | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Bambu Lab | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| eSUN | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Fabru | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Prusa Research | 1 | 0 | 0 |
- Bambu Lab, Bambu Filament Technical Data Sheet - PVA
- Bambu Lab, H2C Filamant Printing Guide | Bambu Lab Wiki
- eSUN, PVA Technical Data Sheet
- Fabru, Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA)
- Flashforge, Technical Data Sheet PVA Filament
- FormFutura, AquaSolve - PVA
- FormFutura, Atlas Support
- FormFutura, Helios Support
- FormFutura, Technical Data Sheet AquaSolve™ - PVA
- FormFutura, Technical Data Sheet Atlas Support™
- FormFutura, Technical Data Sheet Helios Support
- Polymaker, PolyDissolve™ S1
- Polymaker, PolyDissolve™ S1 | Polymaker Wiki
- Prusa Research, Water soluble (BVOH/PVA) | Prusa Knowledge Base
- Raise3D, Premium PVA+ - Raise3D
- Raise3D, Raise3D Premium PVA+ Technical Data Sheet
- SUNLU, SUNLU quick start guide for new users (SUNLU wiki)
- SUNLU, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET ISO PVA
- Yousu, Yousu PVA 3D FILMAENT Technical Data Sheet