Thermal conductivity against densityHigher and further left: spreads more heat for its weightThermal expansion against thermal conductivityLower and further right: warps less when heated
Try it on a partA bracket to run stress or thermal on, free in your browser
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.
Plastic Polycarbonate
Covestro Makrolon 2405 general-purpose PC (MVR 19), Covestro technical datasheet version 2026-09-28, typical values
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Makrolon 2405 Technical Data SheetCovestroPlastic Polycarbonate · Yield strength: typical, tensile yieldPlastic Polycarbonate · Ultimate tensile strength: typical, stress at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Flexural strength: typical, flexural strengthPlastic Polycarbonate · Elongation at break: typical, strain at breakPlastic Polycarbonate · Young's modulus (stiffness): typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Density: typicalPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal conductivity: typical, through-plane, 23 CPlastic Polycarbonate · Thermal expansion: typical, 23-55 C, parallel and normalPlastic Polycarbonate · Glass transition: typical, DSC 10 C/minPlastic Polycarbonate · Max service temperature: UL 746B RTI, tensile strength, 1.5 mm
Engineering Polymers Part and Mold Design: Thermoplastics, A Design GuideCovestroarchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Poisson's ratio: typical, polycarbonate family (Covestro Part and Mold Design guide, Table 3-1)
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Makrolon 2405 Data Sheet, ASTM valuesBayer MaterialSciencearchived copyPlastic Polycarbonate · Specific heat: typical (guide value), Bayer ASTM datasheet for Makrolon 2405, ASTM D 2766
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 is 3D printed: its properties depend on build direction and print settings; these are typical values.
Questions
Mechanical
Is FDM PAHT-CF stronger than Plastic Polycarbonate?
FDM PAHT-CF is stronger: its tensile strength is 92 MPa against yield strength 65 MPa for Plastic Polycarbonate (42%).
Which is lighter, FDM PAHT-CF or Plastic Polycarbonate?
FDM PAHT-CF is lighter: 1,060 kg/m³ against 1,200 kg/m³ for Plastic Polycarbonate.
Which is stiffer, FDM PAHT-CF or Plastic Polycarbonate?
FDM PAHT-CF is stiffer: Young's modulus 3.86 GPa against 2.4 GPa for Plastic 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 Plastic 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
Plastic Polycarbonate
Stiff rod or tie (tension)
lighter
1.82x heavier
Stiff beam (bending)
lighter
44% heavier
Stiff panel or plate
lighter
33% heavier
Strong rod or tie
lighter
1.6x heavier
Strong beam
lighter
43% heavier
Strong panel or plate
lighter
35% 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).
Which is more ductile, FDM PAHT-CF or Plastic Polycarbonate?
Plastic Polycarbonate stretches further before it breaks: 125% elongation at break against 8.4% for FDM PAHT-CF.