PPA-CF 3D PRINTING
PPA-CF pairs polyphthalamide — a high-performance nylon — with chopped carbon fibre, and the result is the strongest, stiffest filament we print: tensile strength around 165 MPa and a flexural modulus near 10 GPa, with heat deflection up to ~220°C. Unlike standard nylons it absorbs very little moisture, so parts stay rigid in humid or outdoor-adjacent environments. Carbon-fibre materials carry a £25 minimum order — upload an STL or STEP for an instant quote.
WHEN PPA-CF IS THE RIGHT MATERIAL
- Metal-replacement brackets and structural parts where stiffness-to-weight is the spec — robotics, drone arms, motorsport hardware.
- Load-bearing parts that run hot — beyond ASA-CF and polycarbonate territory but short of PPS-CF's chemical-exposure use case.
- Jobs where standard PA-CF has failed by softening or swelling in humid conditions — PPA absorbs far less moisture.
WHEN PPA-CF IS THE WRONG MATERIAL
- Parts that need to flex or absorb impact — at ~3% elongation, PPA-CF holds shape rather than bending.
- Fuel, solvent or chemical immersion, or flame-retardancy requirements — that's PPS-CF's job.
- Cost-sensitive brackets where PETG-CF or ASA-CF already meets the spec — PPA-CF is a premium material.
TECHNICAL DATA
| Property | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tensile strength | ~165 MPa (XY) | The strongest filament we print — approaching cast aluminium territory |
| Flexural modulus | ~9.9 GPa (XY) | Roughly 6× stiffer than PETG-CF |
| Elongation at break | ~3% | Stiff, not tough — it holds shape rather than absorbing impact |
| Heat deflection temp | Up to ~220°C | At 0.45 MPa load — second only to PPS-CF in our range |
| Moisture absorption | Low for a nylon | ~66% lower than PA6-CF — parts stay stiff in damp conditions |
| Nozzle wear | Highly abrasive | Hardened nozzle mandatory |
| Print requirements | High-temp hotend, enclosed chamber, dried filament | Runs on our high-temperature machine, not the standard fleet |
PRICING
Carbon-fibre composites carry a £25 minimum order — hardened-nozzle setup and premium material cost apply even on small parts. Above the minimum, pricing scales with size and quantity like any other material. Quotes valid for 30 days.
GET YOUR PPA-CF QUOTE
Upload your STL, STEP, or mesh file to the quote tool. Price returns in seconds. Card, invoice (trade accounts) and bank-transfer payment accepted. Most PPA-CF orders are dispatched within 2 working days.
PPA-CF FAQ
Same family, higher grade. PPA (polyphthalamide) is a high-performance nylon: compared with standard PA6-CF it is substantially stronger and stiffer, holds its shape at much higher temperatures, and absorbs far less moisture — the classic nylon weakness where parts soften and swell in humid conditions is largely engineered out. If you've used PA-CF and wished it stayed rigid in heat or damp, PPA-CF is the answer.
Chopped carbon fibre raises stiffness and dimensional stability — parts stay flatter under load and warp less during printing. It does not make the base polymer dramatically stronger in tension, and it always reduces elongation, so CF parts are stiffer but more brittle than their unfilled equivalent. The surface comes out matte and slightly fibrous rather than glossy. Specify CF when rigidity, flatness or stiffness-to-weight is the requirement, not as a blanket upgrade.
Work up the ladder and stop at the first material that meets the spec. PETG-CF: stiff jigs, fixtures and brackets indoors — the cost-effective default. ASA-CF: the same stiffness but UV-stable, for parts that live outdoors. PPA-CF: near-metal stiffness and strength with heat tolerance well beyond either — load-bearing parts that run hot. PPS-CF: the top rung — continuous service near 200°C plus chemical, fuel and flame resistance. Each step up adds cost and lead time, so don't specify PPS-CF where PETG-CF already does the job. If in doubt, tell us what the part does and we'll recommend the cheapest material that meets it.
CF-filled filaments are abrasive, so they run on hardened nozzles, and the materials themselves cost several times more per kilogram than commodity filaments. Several also need drying and higher-temperature hardware before a job can start. That setup overhead is real even on a small part, so composite materials carry a £25 minimum order. Above that, pricing scales with size and quantity exactly like our standard materials.