FDM – PPS-CF Printing Material

PPS-CF (Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polyphenylene Sulfide) is a high-performance engineering material designed for FDM 3D printing applications that demand exceptional heat resistance, chemical resistance, dimensional stability, and long-term durability. By combining polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) with carbon fiber reinforcement, PPS-CF offers a unique combination of mechanical strength and environmental resistance that is difficult to achieve with traditional engineering-grade thermoplastics.

At Forerunner 3D Printing, we use PPS-CF for functional prototypes, fixtures, tooling, and end-use components that must perform in demanding industrial environments. The material exhibits excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, organic solvents, oils, and greases while maintaining dimensional stability at elevated temperatures. These properties make PPS-CF a strong candidate for applications where traditional nylons, ABS, or other common FDM materials may experience degradation or loss of performance over time.

One of the most significant advantages of PPS-CF is its ability to operate in environments that combine heat, chemicals, and mechanical loads. The material features extremely low moisture absorption, excellent thermal stability, and flame-retardant characteristics, including UL 94 V-0 performance in testing. As a result, PPS-CF is commonly selected for industrial, automotive, electrical, and manufacturing applications where reliability and environmental resistance are critical design requirements.

Key Material Facts:

• Carbon fiber reinforced PPS (Polyphenylene Sulfide) engineered for high-performance FDM 3D printing in demanding industrial environments.
• Exceptional resistance to acids, alkalis, organic solvents, oils, and greases.
• Outstanding heat resistance with a heat deflection temperature up to 264°C.
• Extremely low moisture absorption helps maintain dimensional stability in humid environments.
• Naturally flame-retardant and self-extinguishing with UL 94 V-0 certification.
• Excellent dimensional stability for precision components operating in harsh thermal and chemical conditions.
• High stiffness and rigidity make it suitable for structural, tooling, and industrial applications.
• RoHS compliant material suitable for a wide range of industrial and electronic applications.

Common Applications:

• Manufacturing fixtures used in high-temperature production environments.
• Chemical-resistant components exposed to solvents, oils, greases, acids, and alkalis.
• Electrical and electronic housings requiring flame-retardant material properties.
• Industrial replacement parts operating in harsh thermal and chemical environments.
• Automotive under-hood components exposed to elevated temperatures and automotive fluids.
• Low-volume end-use production parts requiring exceptional environmental resistance and long-term dimensional stability.

Design Considerations:

• We currently produce PPS-CF parts on our FDM print farm, which limits parts in this material to a maximum size of 13.38″ x 12.59″ x 13.38″. If you require a larger component, we can recommend alternative FDM materials like ABS that are available on our large-format FDM systems.
• PPS-CF is an excellent choice for applications exposed to high temperatures, offering heat deflection temperatures up to 264°C under low-load conditions. This makes it suitable for environments where many engineering-grade thermoplastics would soften or deform.
• The material exhibits exceptional resistance to acids, alkalis, organic solvents, oils, and greases, making it a strong candidate for industrial and chemical processing applications.
• PPS-CF absorbs very little moisture compared to many engineering plastics, helping maintain dimensional stability and consistent mechanical performance in humid environments.
• Like all carbon fiber reinforced FDM materials, part orientation should be considered during the design process to maximize strength and stiffness in critical loading directions.
• PPS-CF is naturally flame retardant and has achieved a UL 94 V-0 flammability rating, making it a strong option for electrical, industrial, and safety-critical applications where flame performance is an important design consideration.

Frequently Asked Questions about PPS-CF 3D Printing Material

What is PPS-CF?

PPS-CF is a carbon fiber reinforced polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) material designed for high-performance FDM 3D printing applications. It combines the chemical and thermal resistance of PPS with the stiffness and dimensional stability provided by carbon fiber reinforcement.

What makes PPS-CF different from other carbon fiber reinforced materials?

PPS-CF offers exceptional resistance to heat, chemicals, solvents, oils, and greases while maintaining excellent dimensional stability. It is commonly selected for applications where traditional engineering plastics cannot withstand the operating environment.

Can PPS-CF be used for end-use production parts?

Yes. PPS-CF is commonly used for end-use industrial components, manufacturing fixtures, electrical housings, automotive components, and chemical-resistant replacement parts where long-term durability is required.

Is PPS-CF resistant to chemicals?

Yes. PPS-CF offers excellent resistance to acids, alkalis, organic solvents, oils, and greases, making it a strong candidate for demanding industrial and chemical processing applications.

How heat resistant is PPS-CF?

PPS-CF offers exceptional thermal performance with heat deflection temperatures exceeding many common engineering-grade thermoplastics. This makes it suitable for applications exposed to elevated operating temperatures.

Does PPS-CF absorb moisture?

PPS-CF exhibits extremely low moisture absorption compared to many nylon-based materials. This helps maintain dimensional accuracy and mechanical performance in humid environments.

Is PPS-CF flame retardant?

Yes. PPS-CF is naturally flame retardant and has achieved a UL 94 V-0 flammability rating, making it suitable for applications where flame resistance is an important design consideration.

What types of parts are commonly printed in PPS-CF?

PPS-CF is commonly used for manufacturing fixtures, chemical-resistant components, electrical housings, industrial replacement parts, automotive under-hood components, and low-volume production parts operating in harsh environments.

Material Reference Data:

• For more information on how the FDM printing process works please check out this page.
• For general FDM part design trick and tips check out this page.

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FDM – PPS-CF: Technical Specifications:

Property Description	Testing Method	Measurement
Tensile Strength (X-Y)	ISO 527	87 MPa
Tensile Modulus (X-Y)	ISO 527	8,230 MPa
Flexural Strength (X-Y)	ISO 178	142 MPa
Flexural Modulus (X-Y)	ISO 178	7,160 MPa
Impact Strength (X-Y)	ISO 179	27.8 kJ/m²
Heat Deflection Temperature @ 1.8 MPa	ISO 75	235°C
Heat Deflection Temperature @ 0.45 MPa	ISO 75	264°C
Glass Transition Temperature	DSC	100°C
Melting Temperature	DSC	284°C
Water Absorption Rate	25°C, 55% RH	0.05%
Density	ISO 1183	1.26 g/cm³
Flammability Rating	UL 94	V-0

Full material spec spec sheet can be downloaded here.

Filament RoHS Test Results

Filament UL 94 Testing Results

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