PCTG-GF
Glycol-Modified Polycyclohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate (Glass fibre)
3 products from 3 makers. Bambu Lab does not list this material for the H2C; its published process temperatures are within the printer's limits.
- Tensile modulus (XY)
- 3.4GPa
- as published · test bar not described as printed
- Tensile strength (XY)
- 55MPa
- as published · test bar not described as printed
- Not published:
- tensile strength (Z),
- Not published:
- notched Charpy impact.
- HDT at 0.45 MPa
- 78°C
- 2 products · 78
- Price
- 165CAD/kg
- one product
PCTG-GF is a glass-fibre-filled PCTG copolyester. A maker sells it for tooling, equipment and manufacturing aids, and its makers stress its low shrinkage. Its glass transition is 88 °C. On the H2C it prints at 250–270 °C without chamber heat, but makers call for a ruby or hardened steel nozzle and for drying before printing.
Thinly documented Three products, with values from two makers' documents: Spectrum's, which FormFutura AthenaX GF10 shares, and Fiberlogy's. No document describes its tensile bars as printed, so tensile modulus (XY) and tensile strength (XY) are shown as published and not ranked against other materials. Read each figure as one or two sheets' word.
On the H2C
Printing in full- Nozzle
- 250–270 °C
- all 3 products
- Bed
- 90–110 °C
- one product; two give at least 50 °C
- Heated chamber
- none needed
- all 3 products
- Drying
- 60–75 °C, 4–24 h
- all 3 products call for it
- Nozzle type
- hardened
- 2 of 3 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
Glass fibre adds little to PCTG's heat resistance: PCTG-GF's HDT at 0.45 MPa is 78 °C against 76 °C. Against PETG-CF, PCTG-GF's HDT at 0.45 MPa is 6 °C higher. Among the materials, PCTG-GF has a high density and price: both are in the top quarter of the materials that publish them. Its HDT at 0.45 MPa sits in the middle half.
Against its alternatives, PCTG-GF has the highest price
How does it compare with what an engineer would buy instead?
- PCTG-GF: 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
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCTG-GF (this material) | 3.4 as published (1) | 55 as published (3) | — | — | 78 · 2 | 165 · 1 |
| PCTG | 1.75 · 1 | 49 · 2 | — | — | 76 (74–76) · 5 | 48 · 1 |
| PCTG-CF | — | 39–70 as published (3) | — | — | 78 · 1 | 138 · 1 |
| PETG-CF | 3.7 (2.93–4.08) · 11 | 49.4 (43–53.7) · 12 | 28.5 (27–32) · 4 | 8 (4–15.7) · 5 | 72 (71–75) · 11 | 41 · 3 |
| ABS-CF | 4.35 (3.75–4.76) · 4 | 44 (36.2–47) · 7 | 28 · 3 | 16.1 · 1 | 90 (78–91) · 5 | 45 · 2 |
| ASA-CF | 3.91 (2.35–4.43) · 6 | 39.1 (39–45.8) · 7 | 27.5 (23–30.3) · 4 | 5.76 · 3 | 101 (97–103) · 5 | 65 (54–120) · 5 |
PCTG-GF publishes no tensile strength (Z) or notched Charpy impact. Its tensile modulus (XY) and tensile strength (XY) state no orientation, so they are drawn as published.
Mechanical properties
As published, its products give a tensile strength of 55 MPa, a modulus of 3.4 GPa and an elongation at break of 8 %.
| As each sheet publishes it | Spectrum PCTG GF10 | FormFutura AthenaX GF10 | Fiberlogy PCTG+GF10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength (XY) | 55 MPanot described as printed | 55 MPanot described as printed | 55 MPanot described as printed |
| Tensile modulus (XY) | not published | not published | 3.4 GPanot described as printed |
| Elongation at break (XY) | 8 %not described as printed | 8 %not described as printed | 8 %not described as printed |
In grey, a value a product reads from a data sheet it shares, where its own sheet is silent.
Not published for PCTG-GF: strength across the layers and notched impact (its sheets give unnotched values only).
Thermal properties
Its products put HDT at 78 °C under 0.45 MPa and 68 °C under 1.8 MPa, against a glass transition of 88 °C. As published, Vicat softening is 77–89 °C, from one product.
| As each sheet publishes it | Spectrum PCTG GF10 | FormFutura AthenaX GF10 | Fiberlogy PCTG+GF10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| HDT at 0.45 MPa | 78 °Cglassy: counts | 78 °Cglassy: counts | 76 °Cnot described as printed |
| HDT at 1.8 MPa | 68 °Cglassy: counts | 68 °Cglassy: counts | 64 °Cnot described as printed |
| Glass transition (Tg) | not published | not published | 88 °C |
In grey, a value a product reads from a data sheet it shares, where its own sheet is silent.
Printing on the H2C
PCTG-GF prints within the H2C's limits and softens near 78 °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
- PCTG-GF: 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 | 250–270 °C | 3 | 350 °C |
| Bed | 90–110 °C | 1 | 120 °C |
| Heated chamber | — | 0 | 65 °C |
| Drying | 60–75 °C, 4–24 h | 3 | — |
| HDT at 1.8 MPa | 68 °C | 2 | — |
| HDT at 0.45 MPa | 78 °C | 2 | — |
| Vicat softening temperature | 77–89 °C | 1 | — |
| Glass transition (Tg) | 88 °C | 1 | — |
No PCTG-GF 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 | Spectrum PCTG GF10 | FormFutura AthenaX GF10 | Fiberlogy PCTG+GF10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle | 250–270 °C | 250–270 °C | 250–270 °C |
| Bed | at least 50 °C | at least 50 °C | 90–110 °C |
| Heated chamber | none needed | none needed | none needed |
| Drying | 75 °C for 24 h | 75 °C for 24 h | 60 °C for 4 h |
| Nozzle type | hardened | hardened | not stated |
In grey, a setting a product reads from a data sheet it shares or from the Bambu Lab Filament Guide, where its own sheet is silent.
What makers say about printing it
Moisture sensitivity
PCTG is moderately hygroscopic and therefore it is recommended to pre-dry the filament at 75°C for approximately 24 hours before usage for optimal results.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 2For optimal print results we recommend to print AthenaX GF10 filament from a drying box to avoid that the material can accumulate humidity from the environment.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 2Dry box not necessary
Spectrum PCTG GF10, data sheet, p. 1
Nozzle wear
We recommend to use ruby nozzles or hardened steel nozzles.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1In general these glass fibers will accelerate the nozzle-wear of brass nozzles, much faster than unfilled filaments.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1Ruby or hardened nozzle recommended
Spectrum PCTG GF10, data sheet, p. 1Please be aware that glass fiber reinforced filaments contain a relatively high concentration of extremely hard glass fibers, which have an abrasive nature.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1
More from makers: warping and shrinkage and adhesion between layers
Warping and shrinkage
Its low shrinkage factor and perfect layer adhesion make AthenaX GF10 a breeze to print with.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1Reducing shrinkage / warping
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1Increasing dimensional stability
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1
Adhesion between layers
Thanks to its extremely high interlayer adhesion and low shrinkage, it allows even intermediate users to execute large prints.
Spectrum PCTG GF10, data sheet, p. 1
Products
Three products from three makers: Fiberlogy, FormFutura and Spectrum.
Uses, limitations and chemicals
What it is sold for
Making tooling, equipment, and manufacturing aids.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1This makes glass fiber reinforced filaments perfect for 3D printing applications that require mechanical strength and stiffness.
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1
Finish and accuracy
In addition, the glass fibres give the prints a distinctive texture, which, in addition to its undoubted aesthetic qualities, also translates into increased usability.
Spectrum PCTG GF10, data sheet, p. 1Masking layer lines with a matt surface finish in 3D printed objects
FormFutura AthenaX GF10, data sheet, p. 1high dimensional accuracy of the printed elements
Spectrum PCTG GF10, data sheet, p. 1
Chemicals and environment
No maker of these products publishes resistance to a named chemical, to water or to sunlight.
Density and price
All three products give a density of 1,310 kg/m³. One product has a sampled price: Fiberlogy PCTG+GF10 at 165 CAD/kg, from Texas Filament Supply's listing in USD, converted at the Bank of Canada rate of 29 Sep 2026. No Canadian shop in the sample sells it. 3D Printing Canada lists Spectrum PCTG GF10, out of stock when sampled, with no regular price recorded.
| As each sheet publishes it | Spectrum PCTG GF10 | FormFutura AthenaX GF10 | Fiberlogy PCTG+GF10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Density | 1,310 kg/m³ | 1,310 kg/m³ | 1,310 kg/m³ |
| Price | not published | not published | 165 CAD/kg |
In grey, a value a product reads from a data sheet it shares, where its own sheet is silent.
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
2 more properties are published, each under its own sheet's test conditions, so they are listed, not ranked.
The 2 properties, lowest to highest
| Property | Products | Lowest–highest |
|---|---|---|
| Fibre content | 2 | 10 % |
| Impact strength, test unclear | 1 | 45 kJ/m² |
Estimated values
No product publishes values of tensile modulus (XY), tensile strength (XY) and elongation at break (XY) that can be ranked, so the selector estimates them from the products' related values and similar materials. An estimate is a range, never a product's value, and nothing above rests on it.
| Property | Likely | Plausible | Precision | Beside what is published |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile modulus (XY) | 1.4–4.7 GPa | 1.0–6.5 GPa | a factor of 3.4 between its ends | one product gives 3.4 GPa without a stated orientation, inside it |
| Tensile strength (XY) | 30–74 MPa | 23–98 MPa | a factor of 2.5 between its ends | three products give 55 MPa without a stated orientation, inside it |
| Elongation at break (XY) | 2–21 % | 1–42 % | a factor of 10.5 between its ends | three products give 8 % without a stated orientation, inside it |
What likely and plausible mean
Tested against known values, a likely range held the true value 8 times in 10, and a plausible range 19 times in 20. How the estimates are made.
Sources
8 documents from 4 publishers (4 data sheets, 3 makers' product pages and guides and 1 printer document), read 10 Sep–1 Oct 2026. Each value on PCTG-GF'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 3 products.
Every document (8), by publisher
| Publisher | Documents | Values | Products |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiberlogy | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| Spectrum | 3 | 11 | 1 |
| FormFutura | 1 | 0 | 1 |
- Bambu Lab, H2C Filamant Printing Guide | Bambu Lab Wiki
- Fiberlogy, PCTG+GF Filament
- Fiberlogy, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET Fiberlogy PCTG+GF10
- Fiberlogy, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET Fiberlogy PCTG+GF10
- FormFutura, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET AthenaX GF10
- Spectrum, 3D Printing Filament Manufacturer PRODUCT PORTFOLIO
- Spectrum, Spectrum Filaments Product Portfolio 2025 — Prografen pp28–29
- Spectrum, TECHNICAL DATA SHEET PCTG GF10