Material
PCTG
PCTG is a tougher, clearer alternative to PETG. It offers notably better impact resistance and moisture resistance while it retains PETG's ease of use and chemical resistance.
Manufacturing processes
About
PCTG (Poly Cyclohexylenedimethylene Terephthalate Glycol) belongs to the same copolyester family as PETG, but it uses a higher concentration of the same glycol modifier, which gives it meaningfully better impact resistance. This is why parts are less likely to shatter under sudden stress compared to standard PETG.
The raw tensile and flexural strength are similar to PETG; the real improvement is in toughness, not baseline strength. PCTG also absorbs less moisture, which helps it retain its clarity and mechanical properties for longer in humid conditions, and it offers good chemical resistance along with excellent optical clarity.
Like PETG, it isn't optimized for long-term outdoor UV exposure – ASA remains the better option in that case scenario.
PCTG suits protective enclosures, snap-fit parts, clear housings, and functional components that need to withstand repeated impact.
Technical Details
- Accuracy
- ±0.3% (lower limit of ±0.2 mm)
- Density
- 1.23 g/cm³
- Min. wall thickness
- 1 mm
Technical Properties
- Tensile strength
- 45 - 65 MPa
- Tensile modulus
- 1800 - 2300 MPa
- Tensile elongation
- 3 - 5%
- Flexural strength
- 65 - 75 MPa
- Flexural modulus
- 2000 - 2500 MPa
- HDT (0.45 MPa)
- 65 - 80°C
- HDT (1.8 MPa)
- 55 - 70°C
- Default layer height
- 0.2 mm
- Default infill
- 20%
- Embossing
- min. 0.3 mm
- Engraving
- min. 0.3 mm
- Interlocking parts
- Yes
- Warping risk
- Low
- Maximum printing dimensions
- 601 × 601 × 601 mm