Glossary · Filament

3D printing

PC (polycarbonate)

A very hard, impact-resistant and heat-resistant printing material for engineering parts. Printable well only with a hot, enclosed printer.

Explained in more detail

Polycarbonate. Printing temperature 250 to 290 °C, bed 90 to 120 °C, enclosed, warm chamber. Dimensionally stable up to around 105 to 115 °C depending on the grade, very impact-resistant, partly transparent. Strong shrinkage and high moisture absorption, so dry before printing. Often offered as a blend (PC-ABS, PC-PBT), which is easier to print.

Where does the term come from?

Polycarbonate is so called because its building blocks are linked by carbonate groups. Well-known trade names are Makrolon (originally Bayer, now Covestro) and Lexan.

In practice

• The hotend must permanently reach at least 270 °C; a PTFE tube running into the heating zone is unsuitable.
• Use a brim of 5 to 10 mm and keep part cooling at 0 to 30%.
• On smooth PEI, PC adheres so strongly that it can damage the surface: use a textured plate and glue stick.
• Dry at 75 to 80 °C for 6 to 8 hours before printing.
• Some manufacturers recommend annealing finished parts for about 2 hours at 90 °C to relieve internal stresses.

Not to be confused

Clear PC never becomes crystal clear because of the layer structure, but stays translucent. And anyone who only needs a little more heat resistance than PLA is often better served by ASA or ABS.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature does polycarbonate need?

250 to 290 °C at the nozzle and 90 to 120 °C at the bed, plus an enclosed, preferably heated chamber. The figure on the spool takes precedence.

Is a PC blend easier to print?

Yes. Blends such as PC-ABS or the PC blends from individual manufacturers are more forgiving to print and warp less, but lose some of their heat resistance.