PLA-CF: density, print temperature and when to choose it
PLA-CF is PLA filled with short chopped carbon fibers (usually 10–20% by weight). The fibers don't make the plastic stronger in tension in the everyday sense, but they sharply increase stiffness (elastic modulus) and remove PLA's characteristic gloss, giving an even matte surface with no post-processing.
Key properties
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Density | ≈1.15 g/cm³ (lower than plain PLA — the fibers create microvoids in the structure) |
| Nozzle temperature | 210–230°C |
| Bed temperature | 50–60°C |
| Part cooling | 80–100% |
| Shrinkage | minimal, often even lower than plain PLA — the fibers stabilize geometry |
| Enclosure required | no |
When to use it
- Rigid functional parts where minimal deflection under load matters (brackets, frames, holders).
- Drones, instrument housings, tool handles — where weight and stiffness matter more than impact resistance.
- Parts with large flat surfaces, where PLA-CF's matte texture looks more attractive than plain PLA's gloss.
- Prototypes imitating the stiffness of carbon-composite parts without carbon's real strength.
When to pick something else
- You need impact resistance, not stiffness — chopped fiber makes the plastic more brittle; PLA+ or PLA Tough is better.
- The part will be bending under high temperature — look at PA6-GF or PETG-CF.
- No hardened nozzle — printing on brass will quickly wear the bore; then plain PLA is simpler.
Pros and cons
Pros: high stiffness and geometric stability, a pleasant matte surface with no post-processing, low shrinkage and predictable print behavior.
Cons: the fiber is abrasive and wears out brass nozzles within a few spools, the plastic is more brittle on impact than plain PLA, costs noticeably more than base PLA.
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The main hidden cost driver isn't the filament itself (though it does cost 30–60% more than plain PLA), but equipment wear: printing on a brass nozzle without hardened steel or a ruby tip quickly increases the bore diameter, hurting part accuracy and requiring consumable replacement. Budget hardened-nozzle depreciation as its own line item if you print PLA-CF regularly.