Fiberon™ PET-CF17

Polymaker’s Fiberon™ PET-CF17 harnesses a 17% carbon fiber fill weight within polyethylene terephthalate to yield lightweight, rigid parts built for harsh operational demands. Unlike traditional nylon-based carbon fiber composites, this PET formulation absorbs significantly less ambient moisture, providing greater long-term dimensional stability and predictable prints without constant drying cycles. Boasting a tensile strength of 65.9 MPa alongside a 109.3 MPa bending strength in the primary print direction, this composite delivers the structural stamina necessary for metal replacement parts and high-load tooling. Its impressive 5.48 GPa Young's modulus ensures minimal deflection under load, while annealing pushes heat deflection temperatures up to 147.5°C for high-heat environments.

Key Benefits

• Reinforced with 17% carbon fiber content for maximum stiffness and reduced component weight

• High temperature resistance with an HDT reaching up to 147.5°C following post-annealing

• Markedly lower moisture absorption rates compared to carbon-filled nylon materials

• Exceptional dimensional precision with near-zero warping during the build process

• High-speed print capabilities reaching up to 300 mm/s on modern motion systems

• Attractive matte surface finish that conceals layer boundaries effectively

• Excellent inter-layer bonding strength for dependable load-bearing capabilities

• Prints reliably on open or enclosed machines without needing an actively heated chamber

• Compatible with dedicated support materials such as PolySupport™ for PA12

• Perfect for print farm environments requiring low failure rates and high output

Typical Applications

• Drone structural arms, quadcopter frames, and custom gimbal mounts

• Factory tooling, assembly jigs, holding fixtures, and robotic end-effectors

• Enclosures and housings for sensitive electronic and mechanical systems

• Prototype automotive components and lightweight structural brackets

• High-stiffness mounting plates, linkages, and mechanical arms

• Under-hood automotive accessories requiring heat and chemical resistance

• Custom functional hardware replacing traditional CNC-machined metal stock

• Prototypes exposed to elevated temperatures and outdoor elements

• End-use parts needing dimensional accuracy under sustained mechanical loads Fiberon™ PET-CF17 excels in demanding engineering scenarios where low moisture pickup, high mechanical stiffness, dimensional fidelity, and thermal endurance are required.

Specifications Material: PET with 17% Carbon Fiber Filament Diameter: 1.75mm Available Weights: 0.5kg, 1kg, 3kg Available Colors: Black Density: 1.34 g/cm³ Nozzle Temperature: 270–300°C Build Plate Temperature: 70–80°C Maximum Print Speed: Up to 300 mm/s Cooling Fan: OFF (0%) Enclosure: Recommended (room temperature ambient) Nozzle: 0.4mm or larger hardened steel or ruby nozzle required Drying: 100°C for 10 hours if exposed to ambient air

Mechanical Properties

• Tensile Strength XY: 65.9 MPa

• Tensile Strength Z: 27.9 MPa

• Elongation at Break XY: 2.4%

• Elongation at Break Z: 1.0%

• Bending Strength XY: 109.3 MPa

• Bending Strength Z: 43.4 MPa

• Bending Modulus XY: 4744.4 MPa

• Young's Modulus XY: 5481.0 MPa

• Young's Modulus Z: 3558.8 MPa

• Charpy Notched XY: 5.1 kJ/m²

• Charpy Unnotched Z: 3.1 kJ/m²

Thermal Properties

• Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): 79.3°C

• Melting Temperature: 241.3°C

• Vicat Softening Temperature: 238.4°C

• HDT @ 0.45 MPa: 147.5°C

• HDT @ 1.8 MPa: 105.0°C

Recommended Print Settings

• Nozzle: 270–300°C

• Build Plate: 70–80°C

• Print Speed: Up to 300 mm/s

• Cooling Fan: OFF (0%)

• Retraction Distance: 6mm (Direct Drive: 1–3mm)

• Retraction Speed: 60 mm/s

• Drying: 100°C for 10 hours prior to heavy printing runs

• Nozzle: Hardened steel, tungsten carbide, or ruby tip (0.4mm or larger)

• Enclosure: Recommended for minimizing thermal gradients on large structures Due to the abrasive nature of chopped carbon fibers, standard brass nozzles will degrade rapidly. To maximize thermal resistance up to the 147.5°C HDT limit and ensure full crystallization, parts should undergo a post-print annealing process at 120°C for 10 hours.