PC-CF (carbon-fiber polycarbonate): density and when to choose it
PC-CF is polycarbonate reinforced with chopped carbon fiber — one of the stiffest and most heat-resistant materials among widely available FDM filaments. It combines polycarbonate's high heat deflection temperature with carbon fiber's stiffness, making it a popular choice for loaded tooling and parts replacing aluminum.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ≈1.22 g/cm³ |
| Nozzle temperature | 270–300°C |
| Bed temperature | 100–120°C |
| Part cooling | off |
| Shrinkage | low for the PC family |
| Enclosure required | yes |
When to use it
- Tooling and fixtures operating at elevated temperature that need maximum stiffness.
- Lightweight structural parts replacing aluminum where specific stiffness matters.
- Brackets and electronics housings under mechanical load near heat sources.
- Prototypes needing accurate, repeatable dimensions on large parts without warping.
When to pick something else
- A brass nozzle is the only one on hand — carbon fiber wears it down quickly; for a less abrasive alternative take PC-GF.
- You need impact toughness rather than stiffness — reinforcement makes the material more brittle; plain PC or PC-ABS handles impact better.
- You need even higher heat resistance — for extreme requirements look at PEI (Ultem) or PEEK.
Pros and cons
Pros: the highest stiffness and heat resistance among the catalog's PC materials, minimal warping thanks to reinforcement, a good strength-to-weight ratio, an attractive matte surface.
Cons: highly abrasive to the nozzle — a hardened nozzle is essential for regular printing; more brittle than unfilled polycarbonate; the high print temperatures require an enclosure and a heated bed; noticeably higher filament price than plain PC.
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RuStoreHow it affects your print cost
PC-CF combines two cost sources: the high print temperatures of the polycarbonate base (energy use and the enclosure requirement) and carbon fiber's abrasiveness, which quickly wears down a brass nozzle — for regular work with this material, a hardened nozzle is practically a mandatory line item, not an option. At the same time, low shrinkage reduces the defect rate on large parts relative to plain PC, which partly offsets the higher filament price for jobs that genuinely need that stiffness.