Polymaker PC-ABS 3D Printer Filament

Polymaker PC-ABS is an engineering-grade polymer blend that combines polycarbonate and ABS to deliver an excellent balance of toughness, heat resistance, surface quality, and durability. The resulting material is well suited for demanding functional parts and industrial applications where standard ABS or PLA may not provide sufficient performance.

The PC-ABS formulation provides a smooth, attractive surface finish while maintaining the mechanical performance expected from an engineering thermoplastic. This makes it an excellent choice for functional prototypes, housings, automotive components, electronic enclosures, brackets, fixtures, and other demanding parts.

Polymaker PC-ABS also offers excellent compatibility with metal plating, making it suitable for applications where printed components require a premium metallic finish or additional surface treatment.

For reliable printing, PC-ABS requires an enclosed printer capable of maintaining a high-temperature chamber. Polymaker recommends an actively heated chamber of at least 90°C, along with an all-metal hotend capable of reaching at least 250°C. Proper chamber temperature and post-print annealing are especially important for large or dense parts.

Key Benefits

• Excellent toughness and impact resistance
• High heat resistance
• Smooth, high-quality surface finish
• PC/ABS polymer blend for balanced performance
• Excellent compatibility with metal plating
• Suitable for demanding engineering applications
• Strong choice for automotive and electronic components
• Designed for functional prototypes and end-use parts
• Suitable for high-temperature applications
• Available in Black and White
• AMS compatible with current Polymaker spool designs

Typical Applications

• Automotive components
• Electronic housings and enclosures
• Industrial components
• Functional prototypes
• Brackets and mounting hardware
• Fixtures and tooling
• Protective covers
• Mechanical components
• Metal-plated prototypes and parts
• Low-volume end-use production

Polymaker PC-ABS is an excellent choice when a project requires the combination of toughness, heat resistance, dimensional stability, and a high-quality surface finish.

Specifications

Material: PC-ABS

Diameter: 1.75 mm

Net Weight: 1 kg

Colors: Black, White

Density: 1.10 g/cm³

Printing Speed: 30–50 mm/s

Enclosure: Required

Heated Chamber: Required; minimum 90°C recommended

Hotend: All-metal hotend capable of at least 250°C recommended

Mechanical Properties

• Tensile Strength XY: 39.9 MPa
• Tensile Strength Z: 22.9 MPa
• Elongation at Break XY: 4.2%
• Elongation at Break Z: 1.5%
• Bending Strength XY: 66.3 MPa
• Bending Modulus XY: 2081 MPa
• Young's Modulus XY: 1835 MPa
• Young's Modulus Z: 1677 MPa
• Notched Charpy Impact Strength: 25.8 kJ/m²

Thermal Properties

• Glass Transition Temperature (Tg): 109°C
• Vicat Softening Temperature: 135°C
• HDT at 0.45 MPa: 112°C
• HDT at 1.8 MPa: 106°C

Recommended Print Settings

• Nozzle Temperature: 250–270°C
• Bed Temperature: 90–105°C
• Chamber Temperature: 90–105°C
• Printing Speed: 30–50 mm/s
• Cooling Fan: OFF
• Direct Drive Retraction: 1 mm at 20 mm/s
• Indirect Drive Retraction: 3 mm at 40 mm/s
• Drying: 75°C for 6 hours if the material has absorbed moisture
• Annealing: 90°C for 2 hours
• Dryer or drybox: Recommended
• Magigoo PC: Highly recommended for bed adhesion

Additional Information

Polymaker PC-ABS is a demanding engineering filament and requires an appropriate high-temperature printing environment. An enclosed printer capable of trapping heat is required, while Polymaker specifies an actively heated chamber with a minimum temperature of 90°C.

Maintaining a high chamber temperature is particularly important when printing large or dense parts, where uneven cooling can lead to warping, cracking, or reduced interlayer strength. Parts should be annealed immediately after printing according to Polymaker's recommended process to help reduce internal stresses and improve final performance.

Because PC-ABS is hygroscopic, storing the filament in a dry environment and using a dryer or drybox is recommended. Proper moisture control is important for achieving consistent extrusion and mechanical performance.

Polymaker PC-ABS is also well suited to metal-plating applications, making it a useful material for prototypes, decorative components, and parts requiring a metallic surface treatment.

Note: Material shipment times are subject to Polymaker warehouse stock and production times.