Matte Surface Finish - PolyLite™ PLA-CF contains 8% carbon fiber by weight rendering parts with a smooth matte carbon-fiber surface finish which is very desirable among hobbyists and designers. Carbon fiber filaments for engineering applications have an excellent finish for aesthetic models but are; typically cost-prohibitive for artistic applications, display a grainier surface finish depending on CF content and in the case of CF Nylon are more susceptible to absorbing moisture. PolyLite™ PLA-CF is an ideal choice for applications which require an easy-to-use and cost-effective filament with a smooth looking carbon fiber surface finish that hide the layers.
Mechanical Properties - PolyLite™ PLA-CF offers a balance of high stiffness, good strength and improved toughness for projects requiring a balance of aesthetics and function. The base material of PolyLite™ PLA-CF is Polymakers eco-friendly Matte PLA (PolyTerra™ PLA) formula which displays lower stiffness and strength but better impact resistance (X-Y) than regular PLA / PolyLite™ PLA. The combination of this Matte PLA formula and chopped carbon fiber results in a high quality PLA-CF material with similar youngs modulus (stiffness) and better toughness than PolyLite™ PLA, and better tensile strength (X-Y) than the base PLA material, PolyTerra™ PLA.
Easy to Print - A high quality PLA with carbon fiber, PolyLite™ PLA-CF features excellent dimensional accuracy and is manufactured with Polymakers Jam-Free™ technology which leads to excellent printing quality with zero risk of nozzle jams caused by heat creep . PolyLite™ PLA-CF works well on most printing surfaces with a 25°C - 60°C bed and thin layer of glue stick applied.
Uncompromised Quality - PolyLite™ PLA-CF filament is made with the highest quality ingredients including Ingeo® from Natureworks. Natureworks is a world-leading biopolymers supplier based in the USA with a portfolio of high quality raw PLA materials produced from rapidly renewable plant resources. Combining Polymakers innovative R&D technologies, compounding and extrusion systems with Natureworks Ingeo® resins produces a reliable 3D printing filament to print beautiful and accurate models
This PLA-CF filament is based on Polymakers Matte PolyTerra™ PLA formula, not PolyLite™ PLA. To accurately compare the change in mechanical properties we recommend comparing PolyLite PLA-CF with the unreinforced base material (PolyTerra™ PLA) rather than with regular PLA / PolyLite™ PLA.
Heat creep is the the process of heat spreading irregularly throughout the hot end, one common example is with all metal hot end designs. Once heat creeps towards the cold end, the PLA filament softens prematurely in the cold end and expands resulting in a jam. Polymakers Jam-Free™ technology increases the heat resistance of the filament itself (not the printed part) to 100˚C which prevents the filament from prematurely softening in the cold end and can still melt rapidly once entering the heating zone.
Print Settings:
Nozzle Temperature: 190˚C – 230˚C *
Printing Speed: 30mm/s – 70mm/s
Bed Temperature: 25˚C – 60˚C
Bed Surface: Glass with glue, blue tape, BuilTak®
Cooling Fan: ON
Note: * We highly recommend to use a wear resistant nozzle
Printing conditions may vary with different printers and nozzle diameters
Mechanical Properties:
Young’s Modulus: 2945 ± 100 MPa
Tensile Strength: 28.28 ± 0.7 MPa
Bending Strength: 54.2 ± 1.4 MPa
Impact Strength: 4.82 ± 0.12 kJ/m2
Thermal Properties:
Glass Transition Temperature: 61.8°C
Vicat Softening Temperature: 64.1°C
