🧪 Material reference ranges

External reference ranges for physical properties per normalized material type. Used as a sanity check for crawler-extracted values — out-of-range is a flag for review, not an automatic rejection. Sources: MatWeb, public TDS from Polymaker / Prusament / BASF Ultrafuse / Fillamentum, Wikipedia (cross-checked against primary sources).

PLA

Standard PLA. Brittle but easy-printing. Tg around 60 °C limits service temperature.

Density1.2 – 1.3g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 70MPa
Flexural strength55 – 110MPa
Elongation at break2 – 12%
Impact (Charpy)2 – 6kJ/m²
Vicat55 – 70°C
HDT50 – 65°C
Tg55 – 65°C
Nozzle190 – 230°C
Bed0 – 60°C

PLA-CF

PLA with chopped carbon fiber. Stiffer and slightly more heat-resistant than pure PLA, more brittle. Wide range because CF content varies 10–25 % between brands.

Density1.2 – 1.4g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 100MPa
Flexural strength70 – 140MPa
Elongation at break1 – 5%
Impact (Charpy)1 – 5kJ/m²
Vicat55 – 75°C
HDT50 – 80°C
Tg55 – 70°C
Nozzle200 – 240°C
Bed40 – 60°C

PLA-GF

PLA with chopped glass fiber. Similar to PLA-CF but typically slightly heavier and lower tensile.

Density1.25 – 1.45g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 80MPa
Flexural strength70 – 130MPa
Elongation at break1 – 5%
Impact (Charpy)2 – 6kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT50 – 75°C
Tg°C
Nozzle200 – 240°C
Bed40 – 60°C

PETG

Glycol-modified PET. Ductile, good chemical resistance, easy to print. Lower stiffness than ABS or PC.

Density1.23 – 1.32g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 60MPa
Flexural strength55 – 80MPa
Elongation at break80 – 300%
Impact (Charpy)4 – 12kJ/m²
Vicat70 – 85°C
HDT60 – 80°C
Tg70 – 85°C
Nozzle220 – 250°C
Bed70 – 90°C

PETG-CF

PETG with chopped carbon fiber. Stiffer than PETG, lower elongation. Heat resistance gain is modest.

Density1.28 – 1.42g/cm³
Tensile strength45 – 90MPa
Flexural strength75 – 130MPa
Elongation at break2 – 10%
Impact (Charpy)3 – 8kJ/m²
Vicat75 – 90°C
HDT65 – 90°C
Tg70 – 85°C
Nozzle230 – 260°C
Bed70 – 90°C

PETG-GF

PETG with glass fiber. Moderate stiffness boost over PETG.

Density1.3 – 1.45g/cm³
Tensile strength45 – 80MPa
Flexural strength70 – 120MPa
Elongation at break2 – 10%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT65 – 85°C
Tg°C
Nozzle230 – 260°C
Bed70 – 90°C

PCTG

Copolymer of PET with cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM). Sometimes called "amorphous PET". Distinguished from PETG by markedly higher impact strength and elongation at break — comparable print parameters but tougher, slightly clearer.

Density1.2 – 1.3g/cm³
Tensile strength30 – 60MPa
Flexural strength50 – 80MPa
Elongation at break150 – 450%
Impact (Charpy)8 – 30kJ/m²
Vicat70 – 90°C
HDT60 – 80°C
Tg75 – 90°C
Nozzle230 – 260°C
Bed70 – 90°C

PCTG-CF

PCTG with chopped carbon fiber. Stiffer than PCTG, lower elongation; retains better impact than PETG-CF.

Density1.25 – 1.4g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 90MPa
Flexural strength70 – 130MPa
Elongation at break3 – 20%
Impact (Charpy)4 – 15kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT65 – 90°C
Tg°C
Nozzle240 – 270°C
Bed70 – 90°C

PCTG-GF

PCTG with glass fiber.

Density1.3 – 1.45g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 80MPa
Flexural strength70 – 120MPa
Elongation at break3 – 15%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT65 – 85°C
Tg°C
Nozzle240 – 270°C
Bed70 – 90°C

PET

True polyethylene terephthalate (no glycol). Semi-crystalline, much higher heat resistance than PETG. Rare in consumer FDM filaments — most "PET" products are actually PETG.

Density1.3 – 1.45g/cm³
Tensile strength50 – 90MPa
Flexural strength80 – 130MPa
Elongation at break10 – 200%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT70 – 230°C
Tg70 – 85°C
Nozzle240 – 290°C
Bed70 – 100°C

PET-CF

PET (not PETG!) with carbon fiber. Engineering-grade. Significantly higher heat resistance and stiffness than PETG-CF.

Density1.3 – 1.45g/cm³
Tensile strength60 – 130MPa
Flexural strength100 – 180MPa
Elongation at break1 – 5%
Impact (Charpy)3 – 10kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT80 – 230°C
Tg70 – 85°C
Nozzle260 – 300°C
Bed80 – 110°C

ABS

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene. Tough, machinable. Requires enclosure — warps and emits styrene fumes when printed open.

Density1.02 – 1.1g/cm³
Tensile strength25 – 55MPa
Flexural strength55 – 90MPa
Elongation at break3 – 40%
Impact (Charpy)10 – 35kJ/m²
Vicat90 – 110°C
HDT75 – 110°C
Tg95 – 115°C
Nozzle230 – 270°C
Bed90 – 110°C

ABS-CF

ABS with carbon fiber. Reduced warping vs plain ABS, higher stiffness, lower impact.

Density1.05 – 1.2g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 70MPa
Flexural strength70 – 110MPa
Elongation at break1 – 5%
Impact (Charpy)3 – 12kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT85 – 115°C
Tg°C
Nozzle240 – 280°C
Bed90 – 110°C

ABS-GF

ABS with glass fiber. Moderate stiffness gain.

Density1.1 – 1.3g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 80MPa
Flexural strength70 – 130MPa
Elongation at break1 – 5%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT85 – 115°C
Tg°C
Nozzle240 – 280°C
Bed90 – 110°C

ASA

Acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylate. Like ABS but UV-stable — designed for outdoor use.

Density1.04 – 1.12g/cm³
Tensile strength30 – 55MPa
Flexural strength60 – 90MPa
Elongation at break5 – 30%
Impact (Charpy)10 – 35kJ/m²
Vicat95 – 110°C
HDT85 – 110°C
Tg100 – 115°C
Nozzle240 – 270°C
Bed95 – 110°C

ASA-CF

ASA with carbon fiber. Stiffer than plain ASA, retains UV stability.

Density1.05 – 1.2g/cm³
Tensile strength40 – 75MPa
Flexural strength70 – 120MPa
Elongation at break1 – 5%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT90 – 115°C
Tg°C
Nozzle250 – 280°C
Bed95 – 110°C

PA

Generic polyamide group (PA6, PA12, PA66, copolymers). Highly hygroscopic — values vary significantly with moisture content. Ranges given are for conditioned (typical) state.

Density1 – 1.2g/cm³
Tensile strength35 – 95MPa
Flexural strength25 – 110MPa
Elongation at break10 – 350%
Impact (Charpy)3 – 20kJ/m²
Vicat150 – 230°C
HDT50 – 95°C
Tg40 – 80°C
Nozzle240 – 290°C
Bed70 – 110°C

PA-CF

PA with carbon fiber — significantly higher stiffness AND heat resistance than unfilled PA. Includes PA6-CF, PA12-CF, PAHT-CF.

Density1.05 – 1.3g/cm³
Tensile strength60 – 130MPa
Flexural strength90 – 200MPa
Elongation at break1 – 8%
Impact (Charpy)4 – 15kJ/m²
Vicat180 – 230°C
HDT80 – 200°C
Tg°C
Nozzle260 – 300°C
Bed80 – 110°C

PA-GF

PA with glass fiber.

Density1.15 – 1.4g/cm³
Tensile strength50 – 110MPa
Flexural strength80 – 180MPa
Elongation at break2 – 10%
Impact (Charpy)4 – 18kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT90 – 210°C
Tg°C
Nozzle260 – 300°C
Bed80 – 110°C

PC

Polycarbonate. High strength, very high impact resistance, transparent. Hard to print — high temps, prone to warping.

Density1.16 – 1.25g/cm³
Tensile strength50 – 80MPa
Flexural strength75 – 110MPa
Elongation at break50 – 150%
Impact (Charpy)30 – 90kJ/m²
Vicat140 – 160°C
HDT115 – 150°C
Tg140 – 155°C
Nozzle260 – 300°C
Bed100 – 120°C

PC-CF

PC with carbon fiber.

Density1.2 – 1.35g/cm³
Tensile strength60 – 110MPa
Flexural strength90 – 150MPa
Elongation at break2 – 10%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT120 – 160°C
Tg°C
Nozzle270 – 310°C
Bed100 – 120°C

PP

Polypropylene. Chemically resistant, light, ductile. Notoriously hard to bed-adhere. Tg below room temperature.

Density0.88 – 0.94g/cm³
Tensile strength20 – 40MPa
Flexural strength30 – 55MPa
Elongation at break80 – 700%
Impact (Charpy)2 – 10kJ/m²
Vicat85 – 110°C
HDT45 – 65°C
Tg-15 – 5°C
Nozzle220 – 260°C
Bed80 – 110°C

TPU

Thermoplastic polyurethane. Range covers common Shore 85A–95A. Tensile strength is typically reported "at break". HDT and Vicat often not reported for TPU.

Density1.05 – 1.3g/cm³
Tensile strength15 – 60MPa
Flexural strengthMPa
Elongation at break200 – 800%
Impact (Charpy)10 – 100kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT40 – 90°C
Tg°C
Nozzle200 – 250°C
Bed25 – 60°C

TPE

Generic thermoplastic elastomer. Wide variation by formulation.

Density0.85 – 1.25g/cm³
Tensile strength3 – 35MPa
Flexural strengthMPa
Elongation at break150 – 900%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT°C
Tg°C
Nozzle200 – 240°C
Bed25 – 60°C

HIPS

High-impact polystyrene. Often used as ABS support — soluble in limonene.

Density1.02 – 1.08g/cm³
Tensile strength15 – 30MPa
Flexural strengthMPa
Elongation at break20 – 70%
Impact (Charpy)8 – 20kJ/m²
Vicat85 – 100°C
HDT65 – 85°C
Tg°C
Nozzle220 – 250°C
Bed90 – 110°C

PVA

Polyvinyl alcohol. Water-soluble support. Highly hygroscopic — must be kept dry.

Density1.2 – 1.35g/cm³
Tensile strength25 – 55MPa
Flexural strengthMPa
Elongation at break50 – 250%
Impact (Charpy)kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT°C
Tg°C
Nozzle180 – 210°C
Bed40 – 60°C

PEI

Polyetherimide (ULTEM). High-temp engineering plastic. Requires high-temp printer (>300 °C nozzle) and heated chamber.

Density1.25 – 1.35g/cm³
Tensile strength80 – 115MPa
Flexural strength125 – 175MPa
Elongation at break25 – 70%
Impact (Charpy)4 – 18kJ/m²
Vicat210 – 225°C
HDT185 – 215°C
Tg210 – 220°C
Nozzle350 – 410°C
Bed130 – 180°C

PEEK

Polyetheretherketone. The hardest-to-print common engineering plastic. Semi-crystalline, requires precise thermal management.

Density1.28 – 1.35g/cm³
Tensile strength85 – 110MPa
Flexural strength140 – 175MPa
Elongation at break15 – 50%
Impact (Charpy)4 – 10kJ/m²
Vicat°C
HDT140 – 170°C
Tg140 – 155°C
Nozzle380 – 450°C
Bed120 – 180°C
Note: Ranges are intentionally generous to avoid false rejections of valid edge cases (e.g. high-CF-content variants). If you find a manufacturer TDS with a value outside this range, widen the range (and add a source in the file comment).