Thermoplastic · Engineering alloy
AdvancedPC-ABS
PC/ABS · Polycarbonate-ABS
A polycarbonate/ABS engineering alloy — more heat- and impact-resistant than ABS, easier to print than pure PC. Needs an enclosure.
Print temperatures
Nozzle 250–275 °C Bed 100–120 °C
PC-ABS is an industry-standard engineering alloy used in automotive and electronics housings — more heat-resistant and tougher than ABS, easier to process than pure PC.
In FDM it's a step up from ABS for demanding functional parts, printing similarly but hotter and more enclosure-dependent.
Strengths & trade-offs
- Higher heat resistance than ABS
- Excellent impact toughness
- Rigid and strong
- Easier to print than pure PC
- Acetone-smoothable
- Warps — heated bed + enclosure required
- Emits fumes
- Hygroscopic — dry before printing
- Higher print temps than ABS
- Pricier
Best for
Automotive partsElectronics enclosuresToolingHeat + impact functional prototypes
Did you know
- PC-ABS is an alloy (physical blend), not a copolymer — two polymers mixed, each doing a job.
- It's a staple of car interiors and instrument panels for its impact + heat resistance.
