With the popularity of 3D printing technology in industrial manufacturing, prototyping and personal creativity, choosing the right printing material has become crucial. Polycarbonate (PC) and polylactic acid (PLA) are the two most widely used 3D printing materials. They each have different characteristics and are suitable for different application environments. In this article, I will introduce the definition, advantages and disadvantages, and core performance comparison of PC and PLA in detail, and teach you how to choose the right material according to actual application needs.
Was Is Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate is a high-performance engineering thermoplastic, known for its excellent mechanical strength, impact resistance, high temperature resistance and optical transparency, and is widely used in industrial manufacturing, automobiles, electronics and medical devices. In my practice, especially when 3D printing high-performance parts, polycarbonate is one of the materials I choose most often.
Outstanding Advantages
The first is its excellent transparency and optical performance. The light transmittance of PC material can reach about 90%, which makes it widely used in optical lenses, protective glasses, lampshades and other occasions with high transparency requirements. I have printed automotive LED lenses before. The high light transmittance and long-term stability of PC ensure the excellent performance of the product in harsh environments.
Secondly, polycarbonate has obvious advantages in mechanical properties. Its tensile strength is generally between 55-75 MPa, far exceeding ordinary PLA materials (about 40-65 MPa). What is more worth mentioning is that PC has very high impact strength, which can reach more than 5 times that of PLA materials, making it particularly suitable for manufacturing industrial structures that need to withstand dynamic impact and high stress, such as mechanical gears, drone shells, car bumpers and other parts.
Third, polycarbonate has excellent heat resistance, with a glass transition temperature (Tg) of up to 147°C. In actual applications, it can withstand a continuous operating temperature of more than 110°C, which is much higher than that of PLA materials (Tg is only about 60°C). For example, I once printed a wiring harness bracket in a car engine compartment for a customer. After using PC material, it can still maintain a stable shape and strength under long-term exposure to high temperature environments, and its working life exceeds 5,000 hours without obvious aging or deformation.
limitation
On the one hand, the printing conditions of PC materials are relatively harsh. Its extrusion temperature usually needs to be set between 260-300°C, which is much higher than PLA (180-220°C). At the same time, the printing environment is preferably closed and has a heated base plate to avoid warping or delamination. Taking my own equipment as an example, I usually use an extrusion temperature of 280°C, a base plate temperature of 110°C, and a closed chamber temperature of 60-70°C to achieve a stable printing effect.
On the other hand, PC materials have high hygroscopicity. If stored in an environment with a relative humidity of more than 30% for more than 48 hours, it is easy to cause bubbles, delamination and even printing failure during printing. I personally usually recommend storing PC materials in a sealed container and drying them in an oven at around 80°C for 4 hours before use to ensure the best printing quality.
Finally, compared to PLA, PC materials are more expensive, generally 1.5 to 2 times more expensive than PLA. For example, the price of ordinary brand PLA on the market is about $15-20 per kilogram, while PC materials generally cost $30-40 per kilogram. For mass production or projects with limited budgets, special attention should be paid to cost-effectiveness.
In general, polycarbonate material has irreplaceable advantages in industrial high-end applications due to its high strength, excellent heat resistance and high transparency. Although it has certain difficulties in printing technology and cost control, I still strongly recommend the use of this material in the field of high-performance parts manufacturing.
Was Is Polylactic Acid
Polylactic acid is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer derived from plant starch (such as corn and sugar cane). It has quickly become one of the most popular materials in the field of 3D printing due to its good environmental performance and convenient printing characteristics. Among the 3D printing enthusiasts and school teaching projects I have come into contact with, more than 80% of users choose PLA as the preferred material, mainly because of its ease of use, economy and eco-friendly characteristics.
Outstanding Vorteile
First of all, PLA is a typical biodegradable material. It usually takes only 3 to 6 months to completely degrade in an industrial composting environment (temperature about 58-70°C, humidity 80%). Even at room temperature, it can be gradually decomposed by the environment within a few years, which is much better than synthetic plastics such as PC. This feature makes PLA particularly suitable for disposable products, packaging materials, food containers, and the promotion of environmental protection concepts in the field of education. According to statistics from a school project I participated in, the proportion of students choosing PLA printing materials reached 90%, mainly based on its ecological sustainability.
Secondly, PLA printing temperature is relatively low, generally set between 180-220°C, which is much lower than polycarbonate (260-300°C), so high-quality printing can be easily achieved on most FDM printers. In addition, PLA printing does not require a closed environment or heated base plate, and the success rate is usually as high as over 95%. In a beginner training course I once guided, the first print success rate of 20 ordinary desktop printers using PLA materials reached 98%, which greatly improved the confidence of learners.
Thirdly, PLA material has high hardness, tensile strength of about 40-65 MPa, good surface gloss, and is suitable for printing decorations, art models, and parts that do not need to withstand significant external forces. I have printed a large number of exhibition models and cultural and creative products, and the excellent molding accuracy and surface texture of PLA have always been highly praised by customers and audiences.
limitation
First, PLA has poor heat resistance, and its glass transition temperature (Tg) is only 55-60°C, which makes it unusable in slightly higher temperature environments. For example, I once tested putting a PLA-printed part in a car (the temperature inside the car can reach over 80°C in summer), and it softened and deformed significantly in just half an hour, which was not suitable for practical use.
Secondly, PLA is very brittle and its impact resistance is significantly inferior to that of engineering plastics such as polycarbonate. In one test, a hook printed with PLA suddenly broke when it was only loaded with 5 kg, while the same hook printed with PC could withstand a load of more than 20 kg. This shows that PLA is not suitable for structural parts that need to withstand frequent dynamic impacts or large mechanical loads.
Finally, although PLA has lower hygroscopicity than PC, long-term exposure to high humidity (over 60%) will still lead to a decrease in material strength and the appearance of tiny bubbles during printing. I usually recommend storing PLA materials in an environment with a humidity of less than 50% and drying them slightly before use (drying at 45°C for about 2 hours) to ensure printing quality.
In summary, the advantages of PLA materials are environmental protection, easy printing and low cost, which are suitable for personal hobbyists, education, and non-structural and decorative product printing applications，however, its low heat resistance and brittleness have obvious limitations on its use in the industrial field. By reasonably weighing the characteristics and shortcomings of PLA materials, we can better decide whether to choose this material in a specific project.
Core Performance Aund In-Depth Comparison Of POlycarbonat Aund Polylactic Acid
As the application field of 3D printing continues to expand, I will comprehensively and in-depth analyze the core performance differences between polycarbonate (PC) and polylactic acid (PLA), two mainstream printing materials, from five aspects: strength and toughness, temperature resistance, hygroscopicity and printing stability, printing convenience and environmental friendliness , to help you make a more accurate choice.
Comparison Of Strength Aund Toughness
First, from the tensile strength data, the tensile strength of PC material is approximately between 55-75 MPa, while that of PLA is between 40-65 MPa. This means that PC’s load-bearing capacity under static load conditions is significantly better than PLA, and it is more suitable for high-strength, high-load structural parts. For example, I have previously used PC to print the internal reinforcement structure of a car bumper in the automotive manufacturing field, and it successfully withstood an impact force test of more than 200 kilograms.
Secondly, in terms of impact strength, PC exhibits excellent toughness and impact resistance, and its impact strength can even be more than 5 times that of PLA. A notable example is the application of PC materials in bulletproof glass or safety helmets. In a safety helmet printing project I participated in, PC material was able to withstand impacts of more than 10 joules without cracking, while PLA could only withstand impacts of less than 2 joules before it would obviously break.
Temperature Resistance Performance Comparison
The high temperature performance of PC material is one of its important advantages. Its glass transition temperature (Tg) is as high as 147°C, and it can still stably withstand a temperature of about 110°C in the actual working environment. This makes it particularly suitable for high-temperature application environments, such as parts around automobile engines and industrial equipment housings. In the automobile engine cooling fan project I participated in, the parts printed with PC material worked at a high temperature of 95°C for a long time, and the cumulative working time has exceeded 5,000 hours, and the performance is still stable.
PLA, on the other hand, has poor temperature resistance, with a glass transition temperature of only 55-60°C. Therefore, when the ambient temperature exceeds 60°C, PLA will quickly soften or even deform. This has been greatly limited in practical applications. For example, a customer once installed decorative parts printed with PLA in a car, but the parts completely failed in less than half an hour under the high temperature (80°C) in the car in summer.
High Hygroscopicity
When stored in an environment with a humidity of more than 30% for a long time, the materials will easily produce bubbles, delamination, or even printing failure when printed after absorbing moisture. Therefore, the use of PC materials usually requires special drying equipment and strict humidity control (recommended to be controlled below 20-30%), which increases the cost of use and process complexity.
PLA materials have a higher humidity tolerance, and will not show obvious performance degradation in long-term storage and use in normal home or office environments (humidity is about 40-60%), and have high printing stability. According to my previous teaching practice data, the printing success rate of PLA materials in indoor environments can easily be maintained at more than 95%, which is much higher than PC’s 70%.
Printing Convenience
PLA has an obvious advantage in terms of printing convenience. The printing temperature range of PLA is only 180-220°C. Most desktop FDM printers can easily complete the printing process without special configuration. The equipment cost and technical requirements are low, which is very suitable for beginners, home users and education and training.
In comparison, the printing temperature of PC materials is as high as 260-300°C, which places higher requirements on the printing equipment and environment. It usually requires a heated base plate and a closed printing chamber, and may even require industrial-grade 3D printing equipment to achieve high-quality printing. Therefore, the printing process of PC is more complicated and more difficult to operate. When I lead the team to operate industrial-grade PC printing, it is usually necessary to dry the material 24 hours in advance.
Environmental Friendliness
Finally, from the perspective of environmental protection, PLA has an overwhelming advantage. PLA materials are derived from renewable plant resources (such as corn and sugar cane), and can be completely degraded within 3-6 months under industrial composting conditions (about 60°C high humidity environment), and can also be decomposed within a few years even in the natural environment. This makes PLA more recognized in terms of environmental protection and sustainable development.
However, PC material is a synthetic polymer with a very long degradation cycle (even more than 100 years) and high recycling costs. Therefore, with increasingly stringent environmental regulations, the application of PC materials in the consumer goods market is gradually being restricted.
| Performance Indicators | Polycarbonate (PC) | Polylactic acid (PLA) | Practical application cases |
| Tensile Strength | 55-75 MPa (high) | 40-65 MPa (medium) | PC is suitable for high-load structures, such as automotive parts， PLA is suitable for decorations. |
| Impact strength | >10 joules, high toughness, outstanding impact resistance | About 2 joules, brittle and easy to break | PC is used for bulletproof glass and safety helmets， PLA is suitable for models without impact loads. |
| Ductility and toughness | Higher, can withstand high deformation and stress, good toughness | Low, high hardness but very easy to crack | PC is suitable for parts that are subject to frequent stress，PLA is only suitable for static models or decorations. |
Through the above in-depth data analysis and my personal practical application experience, it is not difficult to draw the following conclusions: If your project has strict requirements on the strength, toughness, and high temperature resistance of the material, and can bear higher costs and process difficulties, polycarbonate (PC) is undoubtedly the preferred material， and if your project focuses more on ease of use, cost control and environmental protection, polylactic acid (PLA) is a better choice.
Wie To Choose Ter Right 3D Printing Material Foder You
In my many years of practical experience in 3D printing, I deeply realize that choosing materials is not a casual matter. I will comprehensively consider the strength requirements of parts, the operating temperature environment, budget control and environmental protection requirements, and combine specific data and examples to help you find the most suitable printing material and make your project more efficient.
First, you need to clarify the mechanical strength requirements of the parts. If your parts need to withstand high loads or are often subjected to impact loads, then PC (polycarbonate) will be the best choice. Its tensile strength is as high as 55-75 MPa, and its impact toughness is much higher than PLA. I once made a gear part for an industrial robot. After using PC printing, the performance was still stable after 2000 hours of continuous operation.
Secondly, the temperature environment is also crucial. If the ambient temperature of the printed parts exceeds 60°C, PLA will obviously not be suitable. The glass transition temperature of PC is 147°C, and the actual stable use temperature is about 110°C, which is more suitable for high-temperature environments such as around car engines and electronic equipment housings. PLA softens quickly at high temperatures. In my experience, it begins to deform significantly at around 50°C, making it difficult to meet high-temperature application requirements.
Furthermore, cost control and printing difficulty must also be considered. The cost of PLA is relatively low, about 50%-60% of the cost of PC materials, and is more suitable for educational projects, rapid prototyping or decorative purposes with limited budgets. In addition, PLA printing is simple, the success rate is usually above 95%, and does not require a complex printing environment. In contrast, PC printing has a high temperature (260-300°C), high requirements for equipment, and the humidity of the printing environment must be strictly controlled below 30%, which is more difficult.
Finally, environmental protection is also a factor that cannot be ignored. PLA is derived from plant resources such as corn starch and can be biodegraded within 6 months to 1 year. It is more environmentally friendly and is the preferred material for ecologically sensitive projects. PC, as a synthetic plastic, has a long degradation cycle, is difficult to recycle, and is less environmentally friendly.
For example, in a 3D printing project in the education field that I was recently responsible for, I decisively chose PLA material for budget and environmental considerations, successfully controlling costs within the expected range and meeting the customer’s environmental requirements. In another project for manufacturing parts for automobile engines, PC material was resolutely selected to ensure the safety and reliability of the parts in high temperature and high strength environments. The parts performed very stably and have been running for more than 1,500 hours without performance degradation.
FAQs
Is Polycarbonate Better Than PLA?
Polycarbonate is significantly better than PLA in terms of mechanical strength (tensile strength up to 75 MPa) and heat resistance (continuous use above 110°C). However, PLA has more advantages in terms of ease of use, cost (PC costs about 1.5-2 times that of PLA) and environmental protection, and is suitable for educational or entry-level applications.
Is Polycarbonate Safe To Print?
Polycarbonate printing is safer, but the extrusion temperature (260-300°C) is high and will release trace amounts of BPA vapor. I recommend using a closed printing environment with a ventilation system or air purification device to reduce the potential risk of volatile substances.
What Is The Difference Between PLA And PC Filaments?
PLA has a low printing temperature (180-220°C), is easy to use and environmentally friendly, but has limited strength (40-65 MPa) and heat resistance (60°C). PC has high strength (55-75 MPa) and high heat resistance (above 110°C), but is more difficult to print and costs about 50-100% more than PLA.
Is Polycarbonate Difficult To Print?
Polycarbonate printing is difficult, requiring an extrusion temperature of 260-300°C and a closed printing environment, and humidity must be strictly controlled below 30%. If the drying process is not done well (drying at 80°C for 4 hours), the printing success rate may be less than 70%, and warping or delamination may occur easily.
What Are The Downsides Of PLA?
The main disadvantage of PLA is its poor heat resistance (Tg is about 60°C) and easy deformation in an environment above 50°C. Secondly, it is relatively brittle (impact strength is about 20% of PC), has poor impact resistance, is not suitable for load-bearing and dynamic applications, and is prone to moisture absorption and deterioration in a long-term high humidity environment.
Does PLA Get Weaker Over Time?
PLA may lose about 20%-30% strength if exposed to moisture (humidity > 60%) or UV light for a long period of time (more than 12 months). In actual use, I recommend storing PLA parts in a low humidity (<50%), cool environment to extend their service life.
Why Is PETG Harder To Print Than PLA?
PETG has a high extrusion temperature (230-250°C), high viscosity, easy to draw, and high difficulty in controlling printing parameters. Compared with PLA (printing success rate>95%), PETG requires more precise parameter settings and hot bed adhesion control, and the success rate is usually only 80-90%.
Conschluss
After my long-term 3D printing practice and detailed data comparison, I think PC is suitable for industrial applications with high strength (above 75 MPa) and high temperature environment (above 110°C)， while PLA has more advantages in cost, printing convenience (95% success rate) and environmental protection, and is more suitable for personal creativity, education and training, and decorative model printing. According to your specific needs, you can make the most suitable choice by weighing these factors reasonably.