Polycarbonate (PC) 3D Printing: The Strongest Standard Filament
PC prints the toughest, most heat-resistant parts of any mainstream filament. Properties, applications, honest limitations, and how it compares to Nylon and ABS.
The Top of the Standard-Filament Food Chain
When ABS isn't strong enough and Nylon isn't stiff enough, polycarbonate is the next stop. PC combines the highest tensile strength (~60-65 MPa), the highest heat resistance (~110-120°C continuous), and outstanding impact toughness in one material — it's what safety glasses and riot shields are made of. For printed parts that face real mechanical duty, PC is frequently the last polymer stop before switching to metal.
PC vs the Other Engineering Filaments
Where it sits among the usual suspects:
| Property | PC | Nylon (PA) | ABS | PETG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | 60-65 MPa | 50-60 MPa | 40 MPa | 50 MPa |
| Stiffness | High | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Impact resistance | Very high | Very high | High | High |
| Heat resistance | ~115°C | ~100-120°C | ~95°C | ~75°C |
| Creep under load | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Higher |
| Moisture sensitivity | Moderate (dry to print) | High | Low | Low |
Where PC Earns Its Premium
- Structural brackets and load-bearing frames that must not creep over months under constant load.
- Housings around heat: power electronics, lighting, motor enclosures at temperatures that soften PETG.
- Impact-critical guards and covers on machinery.
- Functional prototypes standing in for molded PC production parts (electronics housings, lenses' structural frames).
- Fixtures that get autoclaved-adjacent thermal cycles or dishwasher-style duty.
Honest Limitations
PC demands respect in three ways. It prints hot (300°C-class nozzle, heated chamber) with strong warping tendencies — enclosed production machines are effectively mandatory, which is exactly what we run. It absorbs moisture and prints poorly wet, so drying discipline matters (handled in-house). And UV exposure yellows and embrittles unprotected PC over years outdoors — for sun-facing parts, ASA or a painted finish is the better plan. None of these affect the ordered part; they're why self-printing PC frustrates people.
Design Notes for PC Parts
- Use PC's stiffness: walls can often be 20-30% thinner than an equivalent PETG design for the same rigidity.
- Generous fillets at load transitions — PC is tough, but sharp internal corners concentrate stress in any material.
- Heat-set inserts thread beautifully and hold torque; specify them for serviceable assemblies.
- For maximum-strength orientation, tell us the load direction; we orient layers to keep tension in-plane.
Quote a PC Part
Upload your part and select Polycarbonate (PC) to see instant pricing. If you're choosing between PC, PA-CF, and PAHT-CF for a demanding application, describe the load and temperature in the order notes — our engineers routinely arbitrate exactly that trio.
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