Filament Guide

PC Filament Guide

The high-performance ceiling. Extremely tough and heat-resistant.

Last updated: March 2026

PC
Polycarbonate
The high-performance ceiling. Extremely tough and heat-resistant.
Advanced High Performance

Polycarbonate is the material in bulletproof glass, riot shields, and aircraft canopies. It has one of the highest impact strengths of any printable thermoplastic, combined with a heat deflection temperature well above 120°C and genuine optical clarity. It's the most demanding common FDM material, but also the most rewarding - it requires a printer that can sustain 300°C+ nozzle temps and 120°C bed temps, ideally inside a heated enclosure.

PC warps aggressively, requires an all-metal hotend (PTFE liners degrade above ~240°C), and is highly hygroscopic. Even small amounts of moisture cause hydrolysis that weakens the polymer - storage and printing conditions must be tightly controlled.

Pure PC is notoriously difficult. PC/ABS blends and PC/PBT blends are much more printable and retain most of the thermal and impact benefits. If you need PC performance without expert-level printer setup, start with a blend.

Chemistry
Polycarbonate - carbonate group (-O-CO-O-) linking bisphenol A units
Print Temp
Nozzle: 260-310°C[1]
Bed: 110-120°C
Enclosure required
Heat Resistance
Deflects at 110-135°C[2] - among the highest for consumer filament
Optical Clarity
Near-glass transparency in clear grades when printed optimally
Hotend Requirement
All-metal hotend required[1] - no PTFE above 240°C
Impact Strength
Highest of common FDM materials
Pros
  • Exceptional impact strength — extremely hard to shatter
  • Very high heat resistance (110-135°C)
  • Optically clear in transparent grades
  • Good dimensional stability at temperature
  • Flame retardant grades available
Cons
  • Requires 260-310°C - all-metal hotend mandatory
  • Warps heavily - heated enclosure nearly essential
  • Moisture causes hydrolysis - strict drying required
  • Expensive and less available than other materials
  • UV unstable - yellows outdoors without UV coating
  • Scratches more easily than glass despite toughness

Best Used For

High-temp enclosures Protective shields Electrical insulators Optical components Structural brackets Printer parts (hotend mounts) Aerospace-adjacent prototypes

Niche Tips

Start with PC/ABS blend if you haven't printed pure PC before. It prints ~30°C cooler, warps less, and retains most of the thermal and impact benefits.
PC must be dried at 80-90°C for 8-12 hours minimum. Moisture causes micro-voids during printing that dramatically reduce part strength - you often can't see them, but impact resistance drops by 50%+.
First layer adhesion: apply a thin glue stick layer to a PEI sheet at 110-120°C. PC bonds strongly and releases cleanly on cooling. Don't use bare glass - it bonds too well.
PC's high clarity makes it uniquely suited for light-pipe designs and transparent enclosure windows - but only with a very optimized print profile (high temp, slow speed, 0 cooling fan).

Storage & Humidity

Target: below 15% RH. PC is highly hygroscopic and moisture causes hydrolysis - a chemical reaction that permanently degrades the polymer chains. Unlike most filaments where moisture causes cosmetic or surface issues, wet PC produces structurally weakened parts even when they look fine.
Drying: 80-100°C for 6-8 hours. PC's high Tg (145°C) means drying temps well above what would deform other filaments are safe. A dedicated filament dryer set to maximum is ideal.
Impact strength can drop by 50%+ when printing with even slightly damp PC. If a PC print unexpectedly shatters or layers separate under light load, moisture is almost certainly the cause.

Bed Adhesion

Best surfaces: Smooth PEI with glue stick. The glue stick acts as a release agent - PC at 110-120°C bed temp bonds too aggressively to bare PEI and will tear the surface on removal.
Recommended bed temp: 110-120°C. Enclosure required. A brim of 5-8mm is recommended for almost all PC prints due to high warping tendency.
Do not use bare glass - PC at high bed temps bonds permanently to glass. Do not use bare smooth PEI without a release agent for the same reason. The glue stick is non-optional.
After printing, allow full cool-down before attempting to remove the part. PC contracts significantly on cooling and will often release on its own - forcing it warm risks damaging both the part and the sheet.

Variants & Special Types

PC ProPremium PC formulations with improved printability. Easier flow at lower temperatures than standard PC while maintaining most of the heat resistance.
PC-FRFlame retardant polycarbonate meeting fire safety certifications. For applications near heat sources or requiring regulatory compliance.
Impact-Modified PCPC blended with impact modifiers for significantly easier printing while maintaining good heat resistance. A practical compromise for users who find standard PC too difficult.

References

  1. Prusa Knowledge Base - Polycarbonate (PC). Print temperatures, enclosure requirements, and hotend specifications. help.prusa3d.com/article/polycarbonate-pc_166867
  2. Bambu Lab Wiki - Filament Guide Material Table. Heat deflection temperatures and printing parameters for engineering filaments. wiki.bambulab.com/en/general/filament-guide-material-table
← All materials Browse PC on SpoolHound
Related Materials
RELATED
ABS — easier to print Nylon — flexible engineering PETG — no enclosure needed

Recommended Gear

Enclosure 3D printer enclosure Polycarbonate requires sustained high chamber temperatures (60°C+). An enclosure is mandatory - without one, warping and layer splitting are almost guaranteed. CHECK PRICE →
Dryer High-temp filament dryer PC is very moisture-sensitive and prints at high temperatures where any absorbed water causes severe bubbling. Dry at 80°C+ for 8-12 hours. CHECK PRICE →
Adhesion Bed adhesive (Magigoo/Layerneer) PC needs strong first-layer adhesion at 110°C+ bed temperatures. Specialty adhesives like Magigoo PC are formulated for this. CHECK PRICE →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is polycarbonate hard to print?
Yes. PC is one of the most demanding FDM materials. It requires nozzle temperatures of 260-310°C, bed temperatures of 100-120°C, a heated enclosure, and careful attention to drying. Warping, layer splitting, and bed adhesion failures are common without proper setup. It is not recommended for beginners.
Does PC need an enclosure?
Yes, an enclosure is mandatory for printing polycarbonate. PC has very high shrinkage and a glass transition temperature above 140°C. Without an enclosure maintaining 60°C+ ambient, virtually all prints will warp severely and suffer layer delamination. Active chamber heating is ideal for larger parts.
What nozzle temperature does PC need?
PC typically prints at 260-310°C depending on the specific blend. Standard PC prints at typically 280-300°C but can range from 260-310°C depending on the brand, while PC blends (PC-ABS, PC-PETG) print at lower temperatures around 250-270°C. An all-metal hotend is required - PTFE-lined hotends degrade above 240°C and release toxic fumes.
Is polycarbonate stronger than nylon?
PC is stiffer and has higher heat resistance than nylon, but nylon is tougher and more impact-resistant. PC excels in applications requiring rigidity, optical clarity, and high-temperature performance. Nylon is better for parts that need to flex without breaking. For pure strength, both are engineering-grade materials that far outperform PLA and PETG.