Materials › PVA / BVOH (water-soluble)
PVA / BVOH (water-soluble) – Properties, Temperatures & Tips
All key properties, print settings, pros and cons and matching filaments at a glance.
Properties & print settings
- Nozzle (°C)
- 195 (PVA+) / 215 (BVOH)
- Bed (°C)
- 60
- Drying
- store dry (dry box)
- Difficulty
- demanding
No enclosure needed
What is PVA / BVOH (water-soluble) used for?
Support material for complex overhangs (multi-material / dual nozzle)
+ Pros
Dissolves in water (ca. 1 g BVOH in 20 ml), non-toxic, odourless
– Cons
Very moisture sensitive, expensive, needs a multi-material printer and purging
Printing tips at a glance
- Nozzle temperature: 195 (PVA+) / 215 (BVOH) °C – start in the middle of the range on a new spool and fine-tune with a temperature tower.
- Bed temperature: 60 °C.
- An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts.
- Drying: store dry (dry box). 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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PVA / BVOH (water-soluble) | 4/5 | 195 (PVA+) / 215 (BVOH) | 60 | – | – |
| HIPS (limonene-soluble) | 3/5 | 225–255 | 100–110 | – | – |
| PETG | 2/5 | 230–270 | 60–80 | 69–78 | 38–51 |
| PLA | 1/5 | 190–230 | 25–65 | 55–60 | 40–52 |
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Frequently asked questions
What nozzle temperature does PVA / BVOH (water-soluble) need?
Guideline for PVA / BVOH (water-soluble): 195 (PVA+) / 215 (BVOH) °C nozzle and 60 °C bed temperature. The exact values are printed on the manufacturer's spool.
Does PVA / BVOH (water-soluble) need to be dried?
Recommended: store dry (dry box).
Do I need an enclosure for PVA / BVOH (water-soluble)?
An enclosure is not needed, but avoid drafts.
Values are guidelines from manufacturer datasheets (Polymaker, Bambu Lab, Prusa). They may differ by manufacturer, colour and print settings.