Materials › PC (polycarbonate)
PC (polycarbonate) – Properties, Temperatures & Tips
All key properties, print settings, pros and cons and matching filaments at a glance.
Properties & print settings
- Nozzle (°C)
- 260–290
- Bed (°C)
- 100–120
- Heat resistance HDT (°C)
- 111–117
- Tensile strength (MPa)
- 53–69
- Density (g/cm³)
- approx. 1.19
- Drying
- 80 °C, 8 h
- Difficulty
- demanding
Enclosed chamber required
What is PC (polycarbonate) used for?
Heat and impact loaded parts: fan shrouds, levers, housings, hinges
+ Pros
Very tough, high strength, HDT ca. 111–117 °C, good electrical insulation
– Cons
Strong warping → enclosure required, very hygroscopic, high temperatures, expensive
Printing tips at a glance
- Nozzle temperature: 260–290 °C – start in the middle of the range on a new spool and fine-tune with a temperature tower.
- Bed temperature: 100–120 °C.
- An enclosed chamber is strongly recommended, otherwise expect warping and layer cracks.
- Drying: 80 °C, 8 h. Wet filament shows up as crackling, stringing and rough surfaces.
Compare similar materials
| Material | Difficulty | Nozzle (°C) | Bed (°C) | Heat resistance HDT (°C) | Tensile strength (MPa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PC (polycarbonate) | 4/5 | 260–290 | 100–120 | 111–117 | 53–69 |
| ABS | 3/5 | 240–280 | 90–100 | 87–106 | 33–35 |
| PA / Nylon (unfilled) | 4/5 | approx. 260–285 | approx. 100–110 | approx. 111 (CoPA, annealed) | approx. 78 (Polymaker CoPA, annealed) |
| ASA | 3/5 | 240–280 | 75–100 | 100–103 | approx. 44 |
| PA-CF (carbon fibre nylon: PA6-CF, PAHT-CF, PA11-CF) | 4/5 | 260–300 | 100–120 | approx. 175–215 (Polymaker, annealed); 184–194 (Bambu) | approx. 92–109 (Polymaker); flexural strength 125–151 (Bambu) |
Matching filaments from partner shops
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Frequently asked questions
What nozzle temperature does PC (polycarbonate) need?
Guideline for PC (polycarbonate): 260–290 °C nozzle and 100–120 °C bed temperature. The exact values are printed on the manufacturer's spool.
How heat resistant is PC (polycarbonate)?
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) is around 111–117 °C. Above that, loaded parts start to deform.
Does PC (polycarbonate) need to be dried?
Recommended: 80 °C, 8 h.
Do I need an enclosure for PC (polycarbonate)?
An enclosed chamber is strongly recommended, otherwise expect warping and layer cracks.
Values are guidelines from manufacturer datasheets (Polymaker, Bambu Lab, Prusa). They may differ by manufacturer, colour and print settings.