Polycarbonate Filament
Polycarbonate is a strong, durable, high temperature and impact resistant used commonly in harsher environments Overview | Positives & NegativesHardware RequirementsAn Overview of Polycarbonate Filament
Polycarbonate (PC) is a high strength material intended for tough environments and engineering applications. It has extremely high heat deflection, and impact resistance. Polycarbonate also has a high glass transition temperature of 150° Celsius. This means it will maintain its structural integrity up to that temperature, making it suitable for use in high-temperature applications. It can also be bent without breaking and is often used in applications where some minor flexibility is required. Most available Polycarbonate filaments contain additives that allow the filament to be printed at lower temperatures, so make sure to consult the guidelines for your specific brand of plastic.
Polycarbonate is extremely hygroscopic, meaning it will absorb moisture from the air, which will affect its printing performance and strength. It should be stored in air-tight, moisture-free containers after opening. It also requires very high temperatures for printing and will exhibit layer separation if printed at too low of a temperature or with excessive cooling enabled. Polycarbonate is frequently best printed on a machine that has an enclosed build volume and is capable of handling high bed and extruder temperatures.
Positives
- Impact resistant
- High heat resistance
- Naturally transparent
- Bendable without breaking
Negatives
- Requires very high print temperatures
- Prone to warping
- High tendency to ooze while printing
- Absorbs moisture from the air which can cause print defects
Typical Hardware Requirements
Printer Bed
Temperature: 80-120 °C
Heated Bed Required
Enclosure Required
Build Surface
PEI
Commercial Adhesive
Glue Stick
Filament Extruder
Temperature: 260-310 °C
All-metal hotend required
Cooling Fan
Cooling Fan Not Required
Getting Started
Common Applications
- High-strength parts
- Heat resistant prints
- Electronics cases
Sample Projects
Popular Brands
- Polymaker PC Plus, PC Max
- Matterhackers Flameproof PC
- eSun ePC