PCTG Filament 1.75mm

PCTG Filament

• Diameter: 1.75mm ± 0.03mm
• Print Temp: 250-300ºC
• Hot Bed: 80-100ºC (required)
• Surface: Glue Stick, PEI, Tape
• Notes: Due to the strong adhesion to the bed, it is not recommended to print directly on its surface or on glass. This can lead to damage. We recommend using a masking tape or glue sticks.

PCTG is an upgraded variant of PETG, offering enhanced strength, toughness, and clarity, with significantly higher impact resistance—achieving an impressive 90 KJ/m² in the Izod test (notched sample) compared to PETG’s 5-8 KJ/m²—making it ideal for applications requiring durability and resilience. It also boasts superior chemical resistance, optical properties, and temperature tolerance (up to 76°C), all while retaining ease of printing.

Printing Recommendations:

• First Layers: Disable your part cooling fan for the initial layers to enhance adhesion and minimize warping, especially for larger prints.
• Surface Preparation: A PEI sheet or glue stick application is recommended to ensure a strong bond with the print bed.
• Hot Bed: Maintain a consistent bed temperature to reduce warping and improve layer adhesion.

Features of PCTG:

PCTG is part of the copolyester family, known for its improved mechanical properties over PETG. Its high impact resistance makes it an excellent choice for functional parts, prototypes, and end-use components. Despite its toughness, it retains a glossy finish, which enhances the aesthetics of printed parts.

PCTG shares PETG’s ease of printing but offers improved durability, making it less prone to wear and deformation under stress. It is also more forgiving to print, handling temperature fluctuations better without compromising quality.

Benefits:

• High Impact Resistance: Suitable for demanding applications and functional parts.
• Thermal Stability: Performs well under a wide range of temperatures.
• Food-Safe: Like PETG, PCTG is FDA-approved, making it a viable option for tools, containers, or packaging used with food (applies to the Pure TR version).
• This material is also BPA free.
• Environmentally Friendly: While not biodegradable, PCTG is 100% recyclable.

Additional Tips:

• For best results, use a controlled environment to maintain consistent print conditions, especially for larger parts.
• PCTG is ideal for applications where parts need to withstand rough handling, such as mechanical components, protective cases, or durable prototypes.

Thermal properties:

• HDT (@0.455MPa) 76°C ISO 75
• HDT (@ 1.820 Mpa) 64°C ISO 75
• Vicat softening temperature 88°C DSC

Pre-drying PCTG

PCTG is moderately hygroscopic and therefore it is recommended to pre-dry the filament at 75°C for approximately 24 hours before usage for optimal results. You will get the most out of the material properties with pre-dried filaments. For optimal print results we recommend to print this filament from a drying box to avoid that the material can accumulate humidity from the environment.

Storage and handling

Filament should be stored at room temperature in a dry and dark place with humidity below 15%.
Recommended storage temperature is ca. 18-25°C (64.4 -77.0°F). Keep out of moisture, sunlight and direct heat. To obtain the best parameters of the printed object, it is recommended to dry the material prior to usage and to 3D print it directly from a dry box.

This filament combines the ease of use of PETG with enhanced performance characteristics, making it an excellent choice for professionals and hobbyists looking to achieve strong, reliable prints with a polished finish.