FDM PAHT-CF vs. Wood

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

WoodNatural

Mechanical	FDM PAHT-CF	Wood
Yield strength	not given (tensile used)	not given (tensile used)
Ultimate tensile strength	92MPa1	modulus of rupture99MPa2
Compressive strength	not sourced	46.6MPa2
Flexural strength	125MPa1	modulus of rupture99MPa2
Elongation at break	8.4%1	not sourced
Young's modulus (stiffness)	3.86GPa1	bending MOE12.5GPa23.24x stiffer
Density	1,060kg/m³1	681–702kg/m³3
Strength to weight	86.8kN·m/kg	143kN·m/kg1.65x higher
Stiffness to weight	3.64MN·m/kg	18.1MN·m/kg4.96x higher
Poisson's ratio	not sourced	mu_LR0.352
Shear modulus	not sourced	4.63GPa
Bulk modulus	not sourced	13.9GPa
Speed of sound	1,908m/s	4,252m/s2.23x faster

Stiffness against densityHigher and further left: stiffer for its weight

Strength against densityHigher and further left: stronger for its weight

Thermal	FDM PAHT-CF	Wood
Thermal conductivity	not sourced	across grain0.18W/m·K4
Thermal expansion	not sourced	parallel to grain3.1–4.5µm/m·K4
100 mm part over a 50 °C swing	not sourced	19µm growth
Specific heat	not sourced	solid wood1,700J/kg·K4
Heats up and cools (diffusivity)	not sourced	0.153mm²/s
Thermal shock resistance	not sourced	244W/m
Melting point	225°C1	not sourced
Glass transition	70°C1	not sourced
Max service temperature	HDT 1.8 MPa170°C1	not sourced

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: Bambu Lab, USDA Forest Products Laboratory

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.
Wood: Northern red oak (Quercus rubra), clear straight-grained specimens at 12% MC, parallel to grain unless stated; USDA FPL Wood Handbook FPL-GTR-282 (2021) Ch. 4 and Ch. 5

1
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
2
Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-282), Chapter 5: Mechanical Properties of WoodUSDA Forest Products LaboratoryWood · Ultimate tensile strength: modulus of rupture (no direct tensile value)Wood · Compressive strength: compression parallel to grain (maximum crushing strength), 12% MCWood · Flexural strength: modulus of rupture (static bending), 12% MCWood · Young's modulus (stiffness): bending MOE, parallel to grainWood · Poisson's ratio: mu_LR (red oak group, ~12% MC)
3
Technical Note 218: Weights of Various Woods Grown in the United States (1953)USDA Forest Products LaboratoryWood · Density: average weight of clear wood at 8% and 15% moisture content
4
Wood Handbook (FPL-GTR-282), Chapter 4: Moisture Relations and Physical Properties of WoodUSDA Forest Products LaboratoryWood · Thermal conductivity: across grain, 12% MC (Table 4-7, approximate)Wood · Thermal expansion: parallel to grain, ovendry wood, range across speciesWood · Specific heat: solid wood (all species), 12% MC, 27 C

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 Wood?

Wood is stronger: its tensile strength is 99 MPa against 92 MPa for FDM PAHT-CF (8%).

Which is lighter, FDM PAHT-CF or Wood?

Wood is lighter: 692 kg/m³ against 1,060 kg/m³ for FDM PAHT-CF.

Which is stiffer, FDM PAHT-CF or Wood?

Wood is stiffer: Young's modulus 12.5 GPa against 3.86 GPa for FDM PAHT-CF, so the same part in Wood deflects less under the same load.

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

For the same stiffness or strength: Wood 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	Wood
Stiff rod or tie (tension)	4.96x heavier	lighter
Stiff beam (bending)	2.76x heavier	lighter
Stiff panel or plate	2.27x heavier	lighter
Strong rod or tie	1.65x heavier	lighter
Strong beam	1.61x heavier	lighter
Strong panel or plate	1.59x heavier	lighter

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).