Skip to content
EPTAPRINT
Quote

Filament (FDM)

PC (polycarbonate) 3D printing

Polycarbonate (PC) is a tough, heat-stable engineering polymer used for covers, shields and parts that must absorb impacts. We print it in Brescia with FDM, including carbon-fiber-filled and flame-retardant grades.

Price band
€€
3 variantsData checked on 13 November 2026
Request a quote Download the data sheets

What it is for

Polycarbonate is used for covers, guards, shields, enclosures of electrical equipment, supports and tools that have to absorb impacts and work in heat. It is a very tough thermoplastic and keeps its properties over a wide temperature range.

Do not choose it for parts in contact with solvents, fuels or aggressive detergents, which can cause cracking under stress: nylon or PPS are the better fit there. Outdoors, unprotected, it yellows: prefer ASA. For temperatures beyond its own move to Ultem or PPSU.

Variants compared

PC (polycarbonate): properties of the variants from the makers' data sheets, one column per variant: PC
PropertyPCQuote
Mechanical
Tensile strengthISO 527, XY53.44 MPa41.43 MPa Z
Tensile modulusISO 527, XY2,435 MPa2,149 MPa Z
Elongation at breakISO 527, XY4.53%2.79% Z
Flexural strengthISO 178, XY81.29 MPa
Flexural modulusISO 178, XY2,050 MPa
Charpy impact, notchedISO 179, XY21.28 kJ/m²
Thermal
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) at 0.45 MPaISO 75114 °C
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) at 1.8 MPaISO 7599 °C
Glass transition (Tg)DSC, 10 °C/min113 °C
Vicat softening temperatureISO 306117 °C
Physical
DensityISO 1183, at 23 °C1.19 g/cm³
Water absorptionequilibrium at 23 °C and 70% RH0.253%standard not stated on the sheet
Source
  • Polymaker, PolyMax™ PC, V5.4, PDFread on 13 November 2026
PC (polycarbonate): properties of the variants from the makers' data sheets, one column per variant
PropertyPCQuotePC-CF (carbon fiber)QuotePC-FR (flame retardant)Quote
Mechanical
Tensile strength53.44 MPaISO 527, XY41.43 MPa Z64 MPaISO 527-1, horizontal specimen, at yieldon request
Tensile modulus2,435 MPaISO 527, XY2,149 MPa Z2.6 GPaISO 527-1, horizontal specimenon request
Elongation at breakISO 527, XY4.53%2.79% Zon requeston request
Flexural strengthISO 17881.29 MPaXY94 MPahorizontal specimenon request
Flexural modulusISO 1782,050 MPaXY3.5 GPahorizontal specimenon request
Charpy impact, notched21.28 kJ/m²ISO 179, XY12 kJ/m²ISO 179-1, horizontal specimenon request
Charpy impact, unnotchedISO 179-1, horizontal specimenon request32 kJ/m²on request
Shore hardnesson request83 Shore Dstandard not stated on the sheeton request
Thermal
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) at 0.45 MPaISO 75114 °C114 °Con request
Heat deflection temperature (HDT) at 1.8 MPaISO 7599 °C106 °Con request
Glass transition (Tg)DSC, 10 °C/min113 °Con requeston request
Vicat softening temperatureISO 306117 °Con requeston request
Physical
Density1.19 g/cm³ISO 1183, at 23 °C1.22 g/cm³standard not stated on the sheeton request
Water absorptionequilibrium at 23 °C and 70% RH0.253%standard not stated on the sheeton requeston request
Source
  • Polymaker, PolyMax™ PC, V5.4, PDFread on 13 November 2026
  • Filament maker's data sheet, Version: 2.0-OY, Last update: 19-04-2023, PDFread on 13 November 2026
on request

Typical values from the makers' data sheets, measured on specimens under the conditions stated. They are not guaranteed design values: for a critical application ask us for a test on your part.

Treatments after printing

For unfilled PC: annealing at 90 °C for 2 hours right after printing, as the maker recommends.

Annealing and filament drying are done in a Memmert oven at a controlled temperature.

Design limits

Build volume
350 × 350 × 450 mm
Minimum wall
3 mm
Dimensional tolerance
±0.6 mm up to 100 mm, ±0.75% above

These are the limits of the process, the same for every variant unless stated. For critical dimensions, talk to us before printing.

Which variant to choose

  • PC: unfilled, the toughest. Printed specimens: tensile strength 53.44 MPa in XY and 41.43 MPa in Z (ISO 527), notched Charpy impact 21.28 kJ/m² (ISO 179), heat deflection temperature 114 °C at 0.45 MPa (ISO 75).
  • PC-CF (carbon fiber): stiffer and more dimensionally stable, for brackets and tools. Specimens printed flat: tensile strength at yield 64 MPa (ISO 527-1), heat deflection temperature 114 °C at 0.45 MPa and 106 °C at 1.8 MPa (ISO 75).
  • PC-FR (flame retardant): with a flame retardant, for electrical enclosures. The values of its data sheet are on request.

Data sheets

  • Polymaker, PolyMax™ PC, V5.4, PDFread on 13 November 2026

    Columns: PC

  • Filament maker's data sheet, Version: 2.0-OY, Last update: 19-04-2023, PDFread on 13 November 2026

    Columns: PC-CF (carbon fiber)

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

The PC data sheet reports a heat deflection temperature of 114 °C at 0.45 MPa and 99 °C at 1.8 MPa (ISO 75, printed specimens), with a glass transition at 113 °C. For PC-CF it reports 114 °C and 106 °C at the same loads. For PC-FR the figure is on request.

Polycarbonate is tougher than ABS and copes with higher temperatures. Choose PC when the part has to absorb impacts or works close to heat sources. Choose ABS when you need an enclosure or a functional prototype without those demands.

Polycarbonate copes with water, diluted alcohols and many oils. It is sensitive to solvents, strong bases, fuels and some detergents, which can cause cracking under stress. If the part works in contact with a specific product, state it in your request: we take it into account when choosing the material.

On the sheet's printed specimens the tensile strength is 53.44 MPa in the XY plane and 41.43 MPa in Z, that is between layers; elongation at break goes from 4.53% to 2.79% (ISO 527). The gap is small compared with other filaments, but it still pays to orient the part to suit the load.

Do you have a part to print in PC (polycarbonate)?

Upload the CAD file: we reply within 1 working day with a quote and a recommended material.

Request a quote