Thermoplastic · Smoothable
IntermediatePVB
Polyvinyl Butyral · PolySmooth
Smoothable filament that prints like PLA but polishes glossy with alcohol vapor — no acetone needed.
Print temperatures
Nozzle 215–235 °C Bed 60–80 °C
PVB's claim to fame outside printing is laminated safety and windshield glass — the plastic layer that holds shattered glass together. For FDM, Polymaker turned its alcohol-solubility into a feature: PVB prints like PLA but smooths glossy with IPA vapor, erasing layer lines without acetone.
It's the easy path to a glossy, professional finish.
Strengths & trade-offs
- Alcohol-vapor smoothable (glossy, layer-line-free)
- Prints nearly as easily as PLA
- Good transparency in clear grades
- Decent toughness
- Good interlayer adhesion
- Hygroscopic — needs drying
- Softer and less heat-resistant than engineering plastics
- Pricier
- Alcohol smoothing adds a step
- Can stick aggressively to beds
Best for
Display modelsPropsTransparent partsVasesAnything wanting a glossy finish without sanding
Did you know
- PVB is the same plastic sandwiched inside car windshields and safety glass to stop shards flying.
- Unlike PLA, PVB can be smoothed glossy with cheap isopropyl alcohol vapor — no acetone needed.
