| HS Code | 567610 |
| Material | Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyamide (PA-CF) |
| Filamentdiameter | 1.75 mm |
| Diametertolerance | ±0.05 mm |
| Density | 1.17 g/cm³ |
| Tensilestrength | 150 MPa |
| Tensilemodulus | 10.5 GPa |
| Elongationatbreak | 2.5% |
| Flexuralstrength | 220 MPa |
| Flexuralmodulus | 9.0 GPa |
| Notchedizodimpactstrength | 50 J/m |
| Heatdeflectiontemperatureat045mpa | 150 °C |
| Heatdeflectiontemperatureat18mpa | 100 °C |
| Glasstransitiontemperature | 90 °C |
| Meltingpoint | 220 °C |
| Printnozzletemperature | 280-300 °C |
| Printbedtemperature | 80-100 °C |
| Chambertemperature | 80 °C |
| Moistureabsorption | 0.5% |
| Spoolweight | 1 kg |
| Color | Black |
As an accredited Essentium PA-CF Additive Manufacturing Filament factory, we enforce strict quality protocols—every batch undergoes rigorous testing to ensure consistent efficacy and safety standards.
| Packing | Essentium PA-CF filament packaged as a 1 kg spool in a sealed moisture-barrier bag with desiccant, inside a labeled cardboard box. |
| Container Loading (20′ FCL) | Palletized Essentium PA-CF filament spools loaded into 20′ FCL; moisture-barrier packaging, secured cargo, dry conditions, weight limits observed. |
| Shipping | Essentium PA-CF Additive Manufacturing Filament ships as a non-hazardous, non-regulated solid in sealed moisture-barrier bags on spools. It requires no UN number, hazard class, or special transport permit. Store cool and dry. Standard freight, parcel, or air cargo is acceptable; avoid extreme heat or moisture. |
| Storage | Store Essentium PA-CF Additive Manufacturing Filament in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place, away from direct sunlight, heat, ignition sources, and moisture. Keep it sealed in its original packaging or an airtight dry box with fresh desiccant. Maintain low humidity and moderate temperature. Avoid prolonged exposure to open air, as nylon is hygroscopic and may absorb moisture, degrading print quality. |
| Shelf Life | Shelf life is typically 12 months when stored unopened in a cool, dry place, protected from moisture and direct sunlight. |
Industrial application of Essentium PA-CF Additive Manufacturing Filament in small unmanned aerial vehicle airframe production is evaluated primarily through specific stiffness, damping behavior, and radio-frequency isolation rather than raw tensile strength alone. The pre-compounded formulation carries a nominal carbon fiber loading of 15 wt%, corresponding to roughly 10 vol% short carbon fiber, and this addition ratio is fixed before melt extrusion; it cannot be adjusted at the fused filament fabrication head without invalidating material traceability. Coupon acceptance for flight-weight components is anchored to ASTM D638-15 Type IV tensile specimens, ASTM D790-17 flexural modulus tests, ASTM D648-18 deflection temperature at 1.82 MPa, and ASTM D570-24 moisture uptake at 23°C in 50% RH. When the end item is governed by defense or aerospace quality systems, raw filament batch traceability is retained under AS9100D. Downstream production uses fused filament fabrication on an industrial printer with a 0.4 mm hardened steel nozzle, extrusion temperature 275°C, bed temperature 80°C, heated chamber at 65°C, layer height 0.18 mm, 5 perimeters, and 45% gyroid infill for local buckling resistance. Filament must be dried at 80°C for 8 h to below 0.02% moisture before printing; failure to maintain a dry feed can reduce interlayer tensile strength measured under ASTM D638-15 because hydrolysis at the melt interface progresses more rapidly in the presence of residual moisture. Raster orientation is constrained by fiber alignment along the deposition path, so components carrying bending loads require at least 45% of perimeter paths aligned within 15° of the principal stress vector. After printing, supports are removed and the parts are annealed at 90°C for 2 h in circulating air to reduce frozen-in strain. Terminal product types include UAS motor mount spacers, sensor gimbal brackets, antenna mast isolators, and battery tray interposers. Because the carbon fiber phase is conductive, any part in direct contact with RF-transparent antenna elements or uninsulated bus bars requires isolation gaskets or printed standoffs made from a separate dielectric material; this operational boundary must be designed into the part rather than applied as a coating after qualification.
Aerospace cabin replacement brackets produced from PA-CF filament are evaluated against thermal release and smoke density before mechanical performance, because the 15 wt% carbon fiber addition itself participates in radiant heat transfer and can alter ignition behavior. Primary compliance verification is conducted per 14 CFR Part 25.853(a) Appendix F Part I vertical Bunsen burner tests and ASTM E662-23 smoke density in flaming and non-flaming modes; a pass in the raw printed state cannot be inferred from unfilled PA6/66 UL 94 classifications. The formulation ratio is fixed at 15 wt% chopped carbon fiber in a polyamide 6/66 matrix, and processors must not solvent-wipe the surface with ketones because the fiber-matrix interface can be attacked, modifying effective surface resin content and burn-length behavior. Production proceeds with a 0.6 mm hardened steel nozzle, 0.25 mm layer height, 280°C extrusion temperature, 80°C bed temperature, 70°C heated chamber, and 4 perimeter shells with 40% infill. After printing, support nubs are cut and sanded to Ra 3.2 µm or better before installation of stainless steel press-fit inserts. Terminal product types are cabin seat-back tray support brackets, air distribution duct flanges, passenger service unit housing rails, and stowage bin hinge covers. Validation batches should include as-printed coupons, primed coupons, and coated coupons because flame-retardant topcoats can either dilute or concentrate heat at the polymer surface depending on coating thickness and adhesion.
| Compliance reference | Test condition | Required verification for printed PA-CF cabin interiors |
|---|---|---|
| 14 CFR Part 25.853(a) Appendix F Part I | 60-second vertical Bunsen burner | Average burn length must be verified on as-printed and coated coupons; raw PA-CF cannot self-certify |
| ASTM E662-23 | Flaming and non-flaming modes, 4.0 W/cm² | Ds max must be reported for the actual wall thickness; carbon fiber can raise smoke opacity |
| AS9100D material traceability | Batch-level filament certification | Filament lot, dry cycle, printer parameters, and post-processing history must be retained |
Robotic end-of-arm tooling constructed from PA-CF replaces aluminum gripper bodies when modularity, lead time, and sliding wear against steel nest pins matter more than absolute tensile strength. The material’s 15 wt% carbon fiber addition is compounded into the filament before melt extrusion, so the addition ratio is stable across a production batch; however, the directional stiffness from fiber orientation requires that load-bearing sections use at least 3 perimeters and 35% triangular infill rather than relying on solid fill to compensate for low wall count. Mechanical test acceptance is referenced to ASTM D638-15 for tensile modulus, ASTM D790-17 for flexural strength, and ASTM D256-23 for Izod impact; safety reviews are conducted under ISO 12100:2010 and ISO/TS 15066:2016 when the EOAT operates in collaborative robot cells. The printing process uses a 0.6 mm hardened steel nozzle, 0.35 mm layer height, 270°C extrusion temperature, 75°C bed temperature, and 65°C chamber temperature, followed by annealing at 85°C for 4 h and heat-stake insertion of brass or stainless steel threaded inserts at 190°C. Terminal product types include gripper fingers, locating pins, nesting fixtures, and robot base risers. A documented limitation is that high-speed impact against fixed hard stops can propagate interlayer delamination before bulk fatigue failure; strike zones should be fitted with sacrificial polyurethane bumpers or metal edge guards rather than increasing infill beyond 60% as a substitute for impact tolerance.
For underhood components, the critical design inputs are not short-term tensile values but long-term thermomechanical stability during repeated heat soak and vibration. The formulation’s 15 wt% carbon fiber loading raises heat deflection temperature compared with unfilled PA6/66; published data for short-carbon-fiber polyamide composites in the same fiber content range commonly report HDT values above 160°C at 0.45 MPa, but specific HDT at 1.82 MPa must be confirmed on printed coupons because raster voids reduce apparent stiffness. Conformance testing is structured around ISO 527-2:2012 tensile tests, ISO 178:2019 flexural tests, ISO 75-1/-2:2020 deflection temperature, ISO 899-2:2003 creep in flexure, and ISO 16750-4:2010 environmental loading. Processors must pre-dry the filament at 80°C for 8 h to below 0.02% moisture and feed directly from a dry chamber at 85°C; extrusion is performed with a 0.4 mm hardened steel nozzle at 280°C, bed at 85°C, chamber at 65°C, layer height 0.2 mm, 5 perimeters, and 60% infill in areas subject to clamp load. After printing, annealing at 100°C for 2 h increases crystallinity and reduces residual stress, but also slightly increases shrinkage; dimensional compensation is applied on the XY plane at 0.15–0.25% depending on print orientation. Terminal product types include EGR sensor mounts, turbocharger inlet adapters, radiator fan shroud brackets, and battery tray retainers. Operational boundaries are explicit: continuous service above 120°C in air can initiate oxidative embrittlement, and hot ethylene glycol coolant contact above 80°C can hydrolyze the polyamide backbone; compatibility must be tested according to ASTM D543-21 immersion procedures before releasing a part for production. No additional glass fiber or mineral filler should be dry-blended into the feed, because a secondary filler ratio of 5–10 wt% would alter melt viscosity and reduce interlayer welding.
The replacement of glass-reinforced nylon or machined acetal in downhole instrumentation enclosures with PA-CF filament is limited to non-pressure-retaining structural components unless a full pressure-vessel qualification program is executed. The 15 wt% carbon fiber content produces partial electrical conductivity, so any chassis design requiring electrical isolation of feedthroughs must use separate insulated inserts; surface resistivity testing is performed under ASTM D257-14. Mechanical qualification draws on ISO 527-2:2012 for printed coupons, ISO 178:2019 for flexural modulus, and NORSOK M-710 Annex A for non-metallic material compatibility in sour service; because published data for this specific PA-CF configuration in high-pressure CO₂/H₂S mixtures is limited, coupon soak testing must be conducted in the actual production gas mixture before any field trial. Processing for cylindrical housings uses a 0.4 mm hardened steel nozzle, 0.15 mm layer height, 275°C extrusion temperature, 80°C bed temperature, and 70°C heated chamber, with 5 perimeter shells and 100% infill in the seal boss regions. After printing, the parts are annealed at 100°C for 2 h under nitrogen to limit oxidative darkening, then seal faces are machined flat to 0.05 mm total indicated runout. Terminal product types include logging tool chassis shells, sensor retainers, probe spacers, and non-pressure cable head connectors. The material must not be used as a primary pressure boundary; it is also unsuitable for continuous service in wet H₂S at elevated temperature without an external barrier because the carbon fiber phase can complicate electrochemical corrosion of adjacent metallic components.
Rail interior cable management and seat-back components printed from PA-CF are assessed against fire safety before mechanical fatigue, because the 15 wt% carbon fiber addition contributes to ignition resistance differently than glass-filled polyamide and can increase smoke opacity if incomplete combustion occurs. Compliance is evaluated under EN 45545-2:2020 Annex A hazard levels for R22 and R23 categories, with cone calorimeter testing per ISO 5660-1:2015 and smoke density per ISO 5659-2:2017; specific peak heat release and smoke limits depend on the vehicle category and end-use hazards. The formulation ratio is fixed at 15 wt% carbon fiber; if a flame-retardant variant is required, a pre-compounded halogen-free FR masterbatch at 3–8 wt% may be needed, but this must not be dry-mixed at the press because it would change fiber wet-out and melt tension. Production for large interior parts uses a 0.8 mm hardened steel nozzle, 0.5 mm layer height, 280°C extrusion temperature, 85°C bed temperature, 65°C chamber, 3 perimeters, and 25% infill; joints in long cable trough sections are bonded with a PA-compatible structural adhesive after flame treatment or mechanical abrasion to Ra 6.3 µm. Terminal product types include cable trough brackets, seat-back frames, modular equipment enclosures, and interior panel backing structures. Exterior exposure is not recommended unless the part is painted with a UV-blocking primer because the carbon fiber surface can oxidize and form fiber bloom under prolonged sunlight.
| Rail fire standard | Test method | Parameter | Verification requirement |
|---|---|---|---|
| EN 45545-2:2020 R22 | ISO 5660-1:2015 | Peak heat release, FIGRA | Candidate material must be tested at 50 kW/m²; limits depend on hazard level and vehicle category |
| EN 45545-2:2020 R23 | ISO 5659-2:2017 | Ds max at 4 min | Smoke density must be evaluated on actual wall thickness and surface coating |
| ISO 5660-1:2015 | Cone calorimeter | Sustained ignition | Carbon-filled PA may require FR pre-compounding for HL2/HL3 |
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Essentium PA-CF Additive Manufacturing Filament is a short-carbon-fiber-reinforced polyamide compound supplied in two filament diameter classes, 1.75 mm ± 0.05 mm and 2.85 mm ± 0.05 mm, on spools of 750 g net mass. The product designation is PA-CF. The discontinuous carbon fiber phase is distributed within a polyamide matrix; the manufacturer’s published technical literature positions the material as a high-stiffness alternative to unfilled nylon for fused filament fabrication of load-bearing fixtures and tooling. The filament is intended for extrusion-based systems capable of maintaining a minimum hot-end set point of 300 °C and an enclosed or actively heated build environment. Published mechanical values are orientation-dependent: test coupons printed in the XY plane exhibit higher tensile modulus than those printed in the Z axis because short carbon fibers align preferentially along the toolpath direction. The larger 2.85 mm diameter is typically paired with direct-drive industrial extruders, while the 1.75 mm diameter is used in Bowden systems and higher-resolution open-architecture machines.
Under tensile loading, a carbon-fiber-reinforced polyamide exhibits a modulus increase relative to unfilled PA 6/66 of roughly two to four times. Dried unfilled PA 6/66 typically reports a tensile modulus in the range 2.0–3.0 GPa when tested according to ISO 527-2; short-carbon-fiber polyamide grades report tensile modulus values of 8.0–10.0 GPa for XY-oriented fused filament specimens. This increase is derived from the discontinuous carbon fiber phase, which carries tensile stress at the expense of ultimate elongation. Elongation at break for unfilled PA 6/66 can exceed 50%, whereas PA-CF typically falls below 5% in dried specimens. The practical consequence is that PA-CF is unsuitable for snap-fit features, living hinges, or energy-absorbing structures that rely on high ductility, despite its higher bending stiffness and reduced part mass.
Compared with a 30% glass-fiber–filled PA 6, the carbon-fiber-filled grade has a lower density and a higher stiffness-to-weight ratio, but the glass-filled grade may retain a smoother surface finish and lower fiber-related abrasivity. The distinction is not simply filler identity; it is the interaction between filler morphology, wear behavior, and layer adhesion. Carbon fiber is stiffer than glass fiber, but it is also more electrically conductive. In fused filament parts, this can reduce surface resistivity, although it does not automatically establish ESD-safe classification unless verified under IEC 61340-5-1 or an equivalent production line specification.
| Property | Standard | PA-CF | Unfilled PA 6/66 | PA 6 with 30% glass fiber |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tensile modulus | ISO 527-2 | 8.0–10.0 GPa | 2.0–3.0 GPa | 7.0–9.0 GPa |
| Tensile strength | ISO 527-2 | 100–120 MPa | 50–75 MPa | 110–140 MPa |
| Elongation at break | ISO 527-2 | 2–5% | 50–200% | 3–6% |
| Heat deflection temperature at 0.45 MPa | ISO 75-2/B | 140–180 °C | 150–200 °C | 150–190 °C |
| Density | ISO 1183-1 | 1.20–1.25 g/cm³ | 1.13–1.15 g/cm³ | 1.35–1.40 g/cm³ |
The table reveals the central trade-off: tensile stiffness increases substantially, while elongation at break collapses. In short-carbon-fiber polyamide, the reinforcing fibers are not continuous; fiber length after compounding is typically below 1 mm, and fiber orientation is governed by the deposition path. The filament is therefore not equivalent to continuous-fiber reinforcement. Continuous carbon fiber systems report tensile strength values well above 500 MPa in fiber-dominated directions, but they require specialized placement hardware. PA-CF can be printed on standard fused filament systems that have a hardened nozzle and an adequately controlled heated chamber. This difference—process compatibility versus continuous-fiber directional performance—is often the primary distinction from other products in the engineering filament market.
Polyamide matrices are hygroscopic. Although carbon fiber loading reduces the total mass fraction of polyamide and therefore lowers equilibrium moisture uptake at a given relative humidity, it does not eliminate the need for drying. The manufacturer’s processing guidance and general polyamide extrusion practice specify drying at 80–90 °C for 8–12 h in a forced-air or desiccant dryer, with a target residual moisture below 0.02% by weight before extrusion. Moisture levels above this threshold lead to hydrolysis during melt processing, reduced molecular weight, and loss of interlayer strength. On production-scale fused filament systems, the failure mode is typically observed as steam-induced voids and surface texture degradation, not simply as audible popping. Batch-to-batch variance is minimized when dried spools are transferred directly to a sealed dry storage cabinet at relative humidity below 30% for operations lasting longer than 4 h.
Hot-end extrusion temperature for PA-CF is typically 280–300 °C. The upper limit is constrained by matrix degradation; sustained operation above 300 °C can produce surface blush, odor, and reduced molecular weight. The lower limit is constrained by fiber-induced viscosity increase and incomplete melting of the polyamide crystal phase. A processing window of approximately ±10 °C around the nominal set point is typical for consistent melt pressure on direct-drive extruders. Build plate temperatures of 80–100 °C and chamber temperatures of 60–80 °C reduce warpage and interlayer delamination. For components with length dimensions above 150 mm, active chamber heating is recommended; an unheated open-frame printer can produce edge lift because of differential cooling between the first and last layers.
The melt viscosity of PA-CF is higher than that of unfilled polyamide at the same temperature because the fiber phase disrupts chain mobility and increases shear stress at the nozzle wall. The manufacturer does not publish a single melt flow rate value for this material because the result is highly sensitive to drying state and fiber distribution. Nozzle pressure during extrusion is therefore a more useful process variable than melt flow rate in production monitoring. Operators should log melt pressure, not only set-point temperature, when transferring a recipe from one platform to another.
The most frequent processing conflict on production lines is the combination of a low part-cooling fan setting and a high melt temperature. When the part-cooling fan is set above 20–30% on small cross-section geometries, the rapid quench suppresses crystallization and increases residual stress. The outer shell contracts at a different rate from the core, producing layer split between adjacent toolpaths. Conversely, if the fan is disabled entirely on large flat surfaces, the melt can sag and fiber orientation in the bead becomes inconsistent. The solution on industrial machines is not a single fan speed but a dynamic profile: 0–10% fan for the first 2–3 layers, then 10–20% for solid infill, with occasional 25% only on large overhangs. Published data for this specific configuration is limited; these values reflect general practice for short-carbon-fiber polyamide extrusion.
If the printer uses a Bowden feed path, the fiber-filled filament is stiffer than unfilled nylon and may require increased idler tension. Retraction distances above 4 mm can cause filament buckling or fiber accumulation in the cold end. The filament should be stored in a desiccant chamber or vacuum-sealed with fresh desiccant when not mounted on the machine. Polyamide left exposed at ambient humidity above 60% can regain moisture within hours, and the first symptom is often a loss of layer bonding rather than a visible change in filament surface.
Fused filament parts are not isotropic; the addition of short carbon fiber increases this anisotropy because the fibers align along the deposition direction. The tensile properties reported on datasheets are for XY-oriented coupons printed flat. When samples are printed vertically, the interlayer strength is governed by polymer-polymer fusion at the interface, not by fiber reinforcement. For short-carbon-fiber polyamide, Z-axis tensile strength is commonly 30–50% lower than XY strength. The exact reduction depends on chamber temperature, extrusion temperature, and layer cooling rate. The mode of failure under Z-axis tension is generally cohesive layer separation rather than fiber breakage. Scanning electron micrographs show pulled fibers at the fracture surface only in XY fractures; Z fractures show neighboring polymer beads with limited fiber penetration across the interface.
This anisotropy must be considered when loading directions are not aligned with the print plane. Pressure fixtures, vacuum plates, and clamping brackets should be oriented so that the highest tensile or bending load is carried in the XY plane. If a bracket must be loaded across the layer interface, wall count should be increased and annealing should be evaluated. Annealing of PA-CF can partially increase crystallinity and dimensional stability, but published time-temperature profiles for this specific material are limited. A furnace anneal above the heat deflection temperature can cause part distortion in thin sections; a constrained fixture is therefore preferable during thermal post-treatment.
In production-scale additive manufacturing lines, another limitation appears when nozzles with bore diameters below 0.4 mm are used. Short carbon fibers can form plug agglomerates at the nozzle entry, producing skipped extrusion lines and pressure spikes. The lowest reliable nozzle orifice for this material is 0.4 mm, and hardened steel or tungsten carbide wear-resistant nozzles are mandatory. Brass and copper-alloy nozzles are incompatible because the carbon fiber wears the orifice and changes dimensional output before visible failure. The use of a hardened nozzle is not a performance option; it is an operational boundary for maintaining diameter control and part tolerance.
Essentium PA-CF is used in tooling, assembly fixtures, robotic end-of-arm tooling, inspection gauges, and functional prototypes where elevated stiffness and low density justify the material change. In these applications, the reduced ductility is tolerated because the fixture is not subject to repeated snap-fit deflection. The product differences from unfilled nylon and glass-filled grades are operational: the carbon fiber filler reduces part mass and increases stiffness, but it also mandates hardened tool steel or tungsten carbide nozzle hardware, dry storage, and a heated build environment. Chemical resistance follows the polyamide matrix: resistance to aliphatic hydrocarbons, automotive greases, and many dilute alkaline cleaners is generally acceptable, while strong acids, phenols, and oxidizing acids degrade the matrix. Compatibility with any process fluid must be confirmed by immersion testing according to ISO 175 or ASTM D543; no universal chemical resistance claim is made. The material is not a food-contact or medical-grade material unless an explicit supplier certification is provided.
