FDM PAHT-CF vs. FDM Polycarbonate

Compare FDM PAHT-CF vs. FDM Polycarbonate strength, stiffness, weight and thermal properties.

Mechanical	FDM PAHT-CF	FDM Polycarbonate
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	53.3MPa1
Ultimate tensile strength	92MPa21.73x stronger	53.3MPa1
Flexural strength	125MPa240% stronger in bending	89.4MPa1
Elongation at break	8.4%2	9.2%1
Young's modulus (stiffness)	3.86GPa21.61x stiffer	2.39GPa1
Density	1,060kg/m³2	range1,180–1,200kg/m³1
Strength to weight	86.8kN·m/kg1.94x higher	44.8kN·m/kg
Stiffness to weight	3.64MN·m/kg1.81x higher	2.01MN·m/kg
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	base material0.383
Shear modulus	not sourced	0.867GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	3.33GPa
Speed of sound	1,908m/s35% faster	1,418m/s

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	FDM PAHT-CF	FDM Polycarbonate
Thermal conductivity	not sourced	base material0.2W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	not sourced	base material65µm/m·K4
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	not sourced	325µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	not sourced
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	not sourced
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	42.5W/m
Melting point	225°C2	not sourced
Glass transition	70°C2	108°C137.7 °C higher
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa170°C2	HDT 0.455 MPa105°C1

Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weight

Thermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated

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Sources4 documents: UltiMaker, Bambu Lab, Covestro

FDM PAHT-CF: Bambu Lab PAHT-CF, TDS V3.0, printed specimens X-Y, dry state; nozzle 290 °C, bed 100 °C, 100 mm/s, 100% infill; annealed and dried 80 °C for 12 h before testing.
FDM Polycarbonate: Ultimaker PC, 3D-printed specimens, XY (flat); Ultimaker S5 Pro, engineering intent profile, 0.15 mm layer height, AA 0.4 print core, 100% infill, Cura 4.9, printed one-at-a-time, conditioned >=24 h at room temperature. TDS (file v5.00), April 20, 2022.

1
Ultimaker PC Technical Data Sheet, v5.00UltiMakerarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, peak stress (= stress at yield)FDM Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Density: rangeFDM Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typicalFDM Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: HDT 0.455 MPa (printed specimens)
2
Bambu PAHT-CF Technical Data Sheet, V3.0Bambu LabFDM PAHT-CF · Ultimate tensile strength: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Flexural strength: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Elongation at break: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Density: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Melting point: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Glass transition: typicalFDM PAHT-CF · Max service temperature: HDT 1.8 MPa
3
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyFDM Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: base material: polycarbonate family typical (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
4
Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, through-plane, 23 °CFDM Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: base material: Covestro Makrolon 2405 injection-molding PC, typical, 23-55 °C, parallel

Each number points to the document that states it, with the exact basis. Values without a number are computed from the sourced ones. "Not sourced" means no citable source states it (or only a specification minimum); figures computed from it are left out too.

FDM PAHT-CF and FDM Polycarbonate are 3D printed: their properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.

Questions

Mechanical

Is FDM PAHT-CF stronger than FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM PAHT-CF is stronger: its tensile strength is 92 MPa against yield strength 53.3 MPa for FDM Polycarbonate (1.73x).

Which is lighter, FDM PAHT-CF or FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM PAHT-CF is lighter: 1,060 kg/m³ against 1,190 kg/m³ for FDM Polycarbonate.

Which is stiffer, FDM PAHT-CF or FDM Polycarbonate?

FDM PAHT-CF is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.86 GPa against 2.39 GPa for FDM Polycarbonate, so the same part in FDM PAHT-CF deflects less under the same load.

Which is lighter for the same job, FDM PAHT-CF or FDM Polycarbonate?

For the same stiffness or strength: FDM PAHT-CF is lighter for a stiff rod or tie (tension), stiff beam (bending), stiff panel or plate, strong rod or tie, strong beam, strong panel or plate.

Part that must be	FDM PAHT-CF	FDM Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	lighter	1.81x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)	lighter	43% heavier
Stiff panel or plate	lighter	32% heavier
Strong rod or tie	lighter	1.94x heavier
Strong beam	lighter	1.62x heavier
Strong panel or plate	lighter	47% heavier

For the same stiffness or strength, mass scales with density over stiffness (or strength) raised to a power set by how the part is loaded: 1 for a rod in tension, 1/2 for a beam in bending, 1/3 for a panel (the standard material-selection indices).