PVB
Polyvinyl Butyral
6 products from 5 makers. Bambu Lab does not list this material for the H2C; its published process temperatures are within the printer's limits.
- Tensile modulus (XY)
- 2.21GPa
- 4 products · middle half 2.07–2.24
- Tensile strength (XY)
- 50MPa
- 5 products · middle half 48–51.8
- Tensile strength (Z)
- 32.6MPa
- 2 products · 26.3–38.9
- Notched Charpy impact
- 3.1kJ/m²
- 3 products · 2.9–7
- HDT at 0.45 MPa
- 67°C
- 3 products · 56–68
- Price
- 85CAD/kg
- 3 products · 71–120
PVB is polyvinyl butyral. Makers sell it for investment-casting patterns and decorative pieces, and makers stress that alcohol smooths its surface. Its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 67 °C, just below its glass transition. On the H2C it prints at 200–220 °C without chamber heat, but makers call for keeping it dry.
Partly documented Tensile strength (Z) rests on 2 products, notched Charpy impact, HDT at 0.45 MPa and price on 3 products each and tensile modulus (XY) 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.
On the H2C
Printing in full- Nozzle
- 200–220 °C
- most products that give one
- Bed
- 50–60 °C
- most products that give one
- Heated chamber
- none needed
- 5 of 6 products
- Drying
- 40–60 °C, 4–12 h
- 4 of 6 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, PVB is 2.6 times as expensive and 48 % less tough in notched impact, and its HDT at 0.45 MPa is 11 °C higher. Against PETG, PVB is 3.3 times as expensive, 48 % less tough in notched impact and 30 % stiffer. Among the materials, PVB has a low notched Charpy impact, HDT at 0.45 MPa and density: each is in the lowest quarter of the materials that publish it. The rest of its key properties sit in the middle half.
Against its alternatives, PVB has the highest tensile strength (Z) and the lowest notched Charpy impact
How does it compare with what an engineer would buy instead?
- PVB: its products' median and middle half
- an alternative
- lowest to highest
- each material's median (top row)
- 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVB (this material) | 2.21 (2.07–2.24) · 4 | 50 (48–51.8) · 5 | 32.6 · 2 | 3.1 · 3 | 67 · 3 | 85 · 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 |
| Nylon, maker-undisclosed polyamide | 2.48 (1.89–3.08) · 4 | 57 (50.5–64.5) · 4 | 24 · 1 | 5.2 · 1 | 60 · 2 | 107 · 1 |
| CPE | 1.68 · 2 | 52.5 · 2 | — | 5.7 · 2 | 75 · 2 | 64 · 2 |
Each cell is the median of the products ranked, its middle half in brackets, and how many.
Where PVB sits among the 128 rigid materials on file
Where is it in the landscape: stiffness against strength, heat resistance against price?
- PVB: median, middle half as a cross
- a PVB 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVB (this material) | 2.21 GPa · 4 | 50 MPa · 5 | 85 CAD/kg · 3 | 67 °C · 3 |
| 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 |
| Nylon, maker-undisclosed polyamide | 2.48 GPa · 4 | 57 MPa · 4 | 107 CAD/kg · 1 | 60 °C · 2 |
| CPE | 1.68 GPa · 2 | 52.5 MPa · 2 | 64 CAD/kg · 2 | 75 °C · 2 |
Mechanical properties
Printed flat (XY), PVB typically reaches a tensile strength of 50 MPa at a modulus of 2.21 GPa, and breaks at 9.85 % elongation. In bending, its flexural strength is typically 72 MPa at a flexural modulus of 2.22 GPa.
PVB's products spread most in elongation at break: the middle half runs 5.28–14 %
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
- middle half and median
- beyond the scale
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
| Property | In the median | Median | Middle half | Lowest in the median | Highest in the median | As published | Added filler or additive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (XY) (MPa) | 5 | 50 | 48–51.8 | Yousu PVB, 40 | Polymaker Polycast, 53.2 | 1 | 0 |
| Tensile modulus (XY) (GPa) | 4 | 2.21 | 2.07–2.24 | Prusa Research PVB Prusament, 1.7 | Yousu PVB, 2.31 | 1 | 0 |
| Elongation at break (XY) (%) | 4 | 9.85 | 5.28–14 | Yousu PVB, 4 | Polymaker PolySmooth, 15 | 1 | 0 |
Every PVB product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.
| Product | Tensile strength (Z) | Notched Charpy impact | Notched Izod impact | Shore D hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prusa Research PVB Prusament | not published | 7 kJ/m² | not published | 77 Shore D |
| Polymaker PolySmooth | 38.9 MPa | 3.1 kJ/m² | not published | not published |
| SUNLU PVB | not published | not published | 6.5 kJ/m² | not published |
| Polymaker Polycast | 26.3 MPa | 2.9 kJ/m² | not published | not published |
Across the layers (Z), PVB keeps 62 % of its flat strength and 93 % of its flat stiffness
What does a printed part lose across the layers (Z) against flat (XY), and is that usual?
- a product
- equal share: 100, 75, 50 and 25 %
- PVB's median share
- an alternative
Tensile strength
Z keeps 62 % of XY, median of 2 products
flat (XY), MPa
Share kept: ABS 73 % · PETG 69 % · PVB 62 % · PLA 60 % · Nylon, maker-undisclosed polyamide 49 %
Tensile modulus
Z keeps 93 % of XY, median of 2 products
flat (XY), GPa
Share kept: PVB 93 % · ABS 89 % · PLA 89 % · PETG 88 % · Nylon, maker-undisclosed polyamide 84 %
Elongation at break
Z keeps 21 % of XY, median of 2 products
flat (XY), %, log scale on both axes
Share kept: PETG 59 % · PLA 59 % · ABS 38 % · PVB 21 %
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
| Product | Property | Flat (XY) | Across (Z) | Z as a share of XY |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Polymaker PolySmooth | Tensile strength | 51.8 MPa | 38.9 MPa | 75 % |
| Polymaker Polycast | Tensile strength | 53.2 MPa | 26.3 MPa | 49 % |
| Polymaker PolySmooth | Tensile modulus | 2.2 GPa | 2.01 GPa | 91 % |
| Polymaker Polycast | Tensile modulus | 2.21 GPa | 2.11 GPa | 95 % |
| Polymaker PolySmooth | Elongation at break | 15 % | 2.8 % | 19 % |
| Polymaker Polycast | Elongation at break | 5.7 % | 1.3 % | 23 % |
| PLA (alternative) | Tensile strength | 60 % · 39 | ||
| PETG (alternative) | Tensile strength | 69 % · 13 | ||
| ABS (alternative) | Tensile strength | 73 % · 9 | ||
| Nylon, maker-undisclosed polyamide (alternative) | Tensile strength | 49 % · 1 | ||
| PLA (alternative) | Tensile modulus | 89 % · 29 | ||
| PETG (alternative) | Tensile modulus | 88 % · 10 | ||
| ABS (alternative) | Tensile modulus | 89 % · 7 | ||
| Nylon, maker-undisclosed polyamide (alternative) | Tensile modulus | 84 % · 1 | ||
| PLA (alternative) | Elongation at break | 59 % · 35 | ||
| PETG (alternative) | Elongation at break | 59 % · 13 | ||
| ABS (alternative) | Elongation at break | 38 % · 9 |
Flat and across the layers, property by property
Flat and across the layers
| Property | Printed flat (XY) | Across the layers (Z) | Z as a share of XY | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Median | Products | Median | Products | ||
| Tensile strength MPa | 5048–51.8 | 5 | 32.6 | 2 | 62 %2 products |
| Tensile modulus GPa | 2.212.07–2.24 | 4 | 2.06 | 2 | 93 %2 products |
| Elongation at break % | 9.855.28–14 | 4 | 2.05 | 2 | 21 %2 products |
| Flexural strength MPa | 7270–75.9 | 5 | — | — | |
| Flexural modulus GPa | 2.222.2–2.24 | 4 | — | — | |
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
Its products put HDT at 55.8–68 °C under 0.45 MPa and 53–66 °C under 1.8 MPa, with its glass transition typically at 70 °C. As published, Vicat softening is typically 69 °C.
Where PVB's products soften under load
Where do its products soften under load?
- a product
- middle half and median
The figure as a table
| Property | In the median | Median | Middle half | Lowest in the median | Highest in the median | As published | Added filler or additive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glass transition (Tg) (°C) | 4 | 70 | 70 | Polymaker PolySmooth, 70 | Fiberlogy FiberSmooth, 70 | 0 | 0 |
Every PVB product that publishes these values is drawn; each value, with its document and conditions, is on the Products page.
| Product | HDT at 0.45 MPa | HDT at 1.8 MPa |
|---|---|---|
| Prusa Research PVB Prusament | 63 °Cnot described as printed | 58 °Cnot described as printed |
| Polymaker PolySmooth | 68 °C | 66 °C |
| SUNLU PVB | 56 °C | not published |
| Polymaker Polycast | 67 °C | 53 °C |
| Fiberlogy FiberSmooth | not published | 55 °Cnot described as printed |
Printing on the H2C
PVB prints within the H2C's limits and softens near 67 °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
- PVB: 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 | 200–220 °C | 6 | 350 °C |
| Bed | 50–60 °C | 6 | 120 °C |
| Heated chamber | — | 0 | 65 °C |
| Drying | 40–60 °C, 4–12 h | 5 | — |
| HDT at 1.8 MPa | 60 °C | 2 | — |
| HDT at 0.45 MPa | 67 °C | 3 | — |
| Vicat softening temperature | 60–70 °C | 4 | — |
| Glass transition (Tg) | 70 °C (70 °C) | 4 | — |
No PVB 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.
| Setting | Most PVB products |
|---|---|
| Nozzle | 200–220 °C most products that give one |
| Bed | 50–60 °C most products that give one |
| Heated chamber | none needed 5 of 6 products |
| Drying | 40–60 °C, 4–12 h 4 of 6 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.
After printing
- Alcohol-based smoothing is possible; validate dimensional loss and solvent handling. after Prusa Research, PVB | Prusa Knowledge Base
What makers say about printing it
Printing advice
Increase printing temperature to 220˚C if printing at this fast 15mm^3/s.
Polymaker Polycast, maker's product page or guide, p. 1Keep fan speed on at full blast for best surface quality.
Polymaker Polycast, maker's product page or guide, p. 1The burnout temperature for our PolyCast is 1,100 - 1,200˚C to entirely burnout.
Polymaker Polycast, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
Moisture sensitivity
It is highly recommended to use the PolyBox™ when printing with PolySmooth™ and to store it in the resealable bag.
Polymaker PolySmooth, data sheet, p. 4It is highly recommended to use the PolyBox™ when printing with PolyCast™ and to store it in the resealable bag.
Polymaker Polycast, data sheet, p. 4
On PVB in general
- Highly moisture-sensitive filament; keep dry. Moisture after Prusa Research, PVB | Prusa Knowledge Base
More from makers: supports and removal, warping and shrinkage and adhesion between layers
Supports and removal
Recommended support material PolyDissolve™ S1
Polymaker PolySmooth, data sheet, p. 4Supported Material PVA
SUNLU PVB, data sheet, p. 2Support Material PVA
SUNLU PVB, data sheet, p. 2
Warping and shrinkage
Low shrinkage reduces the risk of deformation and delamination from the table.
Fiberlogy FiberSmooth, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
Adhesion between layers
Poor layer to layer adhesion (slightly worse than PLA)
Prusa Research PVB Prusament, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
Products
6 products from 5 makers; the most from Polymaker (2).
- Most documented: Polymaker PolySmooth, and 1 other that publishes as much.
- Highest tensile strength (XY): Polymaker Polycast, 53.2 MPa.
- Highest HDT at 0.45 MPa: Polymaker PolySmooth, 68 °C.
- Highest notched Charpy impact: Prusa Research PVB Prusament, 7 kJ/m².
- Lowest price: Polymaker PolySmooth, 71 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
PolyCast™ is a filament designed to produce investment patterns for investment casting applications.
Polymaker Polycast, data sheet, p. 2It’s ideal for beginners and decorative projects.
Fiberlogy FiberSmooth, maker's product page or guide, p. 1Ornaments, toys, ornaments, handcrafts
SUNLU PVB, data sheet, p. 1- Decorative translucent pieces, vases and lampshades. after Prusa Research, PVB | Prusa Knowledge Base
Finish and accuracy
PolySmooth™ is a unique, easy-to-print filament designed for hands-free post processing.
Polymaker PolySmooth, data sheet, p. 2The surface can be polished with alcohol to achieve layer free models.
Yousu PVB, data sheet, p. 1Low shrinkage ensures precise dimensions and better detail reproduction.
Fiberlogy FiberSmooth, maker's product page or guide, p. 1
Chemicals and environment
Where no maker of these products speaks to an exposure, reference data for plain PVB resin is shown. Fillers, pigments and printing change it, so it does not stand for these products.
| PVB resin | Verdict | Agents |
|---|---|---|
| Organic solvent resistance | not resistant | Organic solvents (ethanol, toluene) (not resistant) |
| Water solubility | resistant | Water (resistant) |
| UV and outdoor | resistant | Light (resistant) |
Density and price
PVB's density is typically 1,100 kg/m³, the middle half 1,100 kg/m³, across 6 products. PVB typically costs 85 CAD/kg, across the 3 products with a regular price in the sample; the lowest is Polymaker PolySmooth at 71 CAD/kg.
| Product | Price |
|---|---|
| Prusa Research PVB Prusament | 120 CAD/kg |
| Polymaker PolySmooth | 71 CAD/kg |
| Polymaker Polycast | 85 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
8 more properties are published, each under its own sheet's test conditions, so they are listed, not ranked.
The 8 properties, lowest to highest
| Property | Products | Lowest–highest |
|---|---|---|
| Melt mass-flow rate | 5 | 6–15.6 g/10 min |
| Water absorption | 5 | 0.15–6 % |
| Decomposition temperature | 2 | 230–260 °C |
| Elongation at yield | 1 | 4.4–4.6 % |
| Hardness | 1 | 82.5 Shore (scale not specified by source) |
| Interlayer adhesion strength | 1 | 9 MPa |
| Melting temperature | 1 | 175 °C |
| Mould shrinkage | 1 | 0.5–1 % |
Sources
13 documents from 6 publishers (8 data sheets, 4 makers' product pages and guides and 1 printer document), read 10 Sep–26 Sep 2026. Each value on PVB'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 6 products.
Every document (13), by publisher
| Publisher | Documents | Values | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polymaker | 4 | 46 | 2 |
| Prusa Research | 3 | 23 | 1 |
| SUNLU | 2 | 24 | 1 |
| Fiberlogy | 2 | 13 | 1 |
| Yousu | 1 | 8 | 1 |
- Bambu Lab, H2C Filamant Printing Guide | Bambu Lab Wiki
- Fiberlogy, FiberSmooth PVB Filament - Fiberlogy
- Fiberlogy, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET Fiberlogy FiberSmooth
- Polymaker, PolyCast™ (PVB) | Polymaker Wiki
- Polymaker, PolySmooth Technical Data Sheet
- Polymaker, Techanical Data Sheet PolyCast™
- Polymaker, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET Polymaker™ Polycast
- Prusa Research, Prusament PVB
- Prusa Research, PVB | Prusa Knowledge Base
- Prusa Research, PVB Prusament
- SUNLU, PVB
- SUNLU, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET ISO PVB
- Yousu, Yousu PVB 3D FILMAENT Technical Data Sheet