PCL
Very low melting point (~60°C) biodegradable aliphatic polyester that can be hand-moldable when softened in hot water; used in low-temperature FDM printing, biomedical scaffolds and as a PLA toughening additive.
Reference datasheet — PCL is not in the instant-quote catalog. Upload your part and an engineer will quote it in this grade or suggest the closest stocked equivalent.
PCL grades and fills
PCL is supplied in 4 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 4 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PCL polyol / diol prepolymer | Liquid-to-waxy hydroxyl-terminated PCL used as the soft segment for TPU, elastomers, coatings and adhesives — not a molding resin. | 3 | 3 | 15 | 43 Shore D |
Low molecular weight grade | Pick for hot-melt adhesives, coatings and easy-flow compounding where high melt fluidity beats mechanical strength. | 10 | 16 | 400 | 50 Shore D |
High molecular weight grade | Choose for maximum toughness, melt strength and film/fiber extrusion, and for scaffolds needing slow degradation. | 15 | 28 | 800 | 55 Shore D |
Hydroxyapatite / β-TCP filled scaffold compound | Bioceramic-filled PCL for bone scaffolds and cranio-maxillofacial implants where stiffness and osteoconductivity matter. | 15 | 18 | 60 | 62 Shore D |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PCL is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FIL | 3D printing filament | Printing process |
BEAD | Hand-moldable beads / pellets | Surface finish |
MED | Medical / implant grade | Certification |
NATDefault | Unfilled / Natural pellet | Standard supply |
What is PCL?
Very low melting point (~60°C) biodegradable aliphatic polyester that can be hand-moldable when softened in hot water; used in low-temperature FDM printing, biomedical scaffolds and as a PLA toughening additive. PCL has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0414 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -60°C (-76 °F). PCL has a yield strength of 13 MPa (1.89 ksi) and a tensile strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) — weaker than 86% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 600% and the elastic modulus is 0.35 GPa (0.0508 Msi).
What is PCL used for?
- Low-temp 3D printing pens/filament
- Hand-moldable prototyping putty
- Drug-delivery implants
- Biodegradable sutures
- Tissue engineering scaffolds
Advantages
- Forms and bends easily — 95/100, better than 99% of polymer grades
- Readily welded — 90/100, better than 94% of polymer grades
- Ductile — tolerates forming and impact — 600%, better than 93% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 40°C (104 °F), worse than 99% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Difficult to machine — 25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades
- Low strength — 13 MPa (1.89 ksi), worse than 86% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 30/100, worse than 82% of polymer grades
PCL properties
Typical room-temperature values; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PCL has a density of 1.15 g/cm³ (0.0414 lb/in³), lighter than 59% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is -60°C (-76 °F).
Mechanical10
PCL has a yield strength of 13 MPa (1.89 ksi) and a tensile strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) — weaker than 86% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 600% and the elastic modulus is 0.35 GPa (0.0508 Msi).
Thermal10
PCL is rated for continuous service to 40°C (104 °F). It conducts heat at 0.2 W/m·K (0.116 BTU/hr·ft·°F), worse than 56% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 170 µm/m·K (94.4 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
PCL has an electrical resistivity of 1×10¹² Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 94% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability3
Producing a kilogram of PCL takes about 90 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 75% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability8
PCL's machinability is poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades); weldability excellent (90/100); formability excellent (95/100).
Common Calculations5
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Certified mill or lot data ships with every FabDigit order on request.
Strength versus weight in the polymer family
Yield strength against density for every polymer grade FabDigit runs. PCL is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PCL
Is PCL easy to machine?
Very soft and heat-sensitive — chill or cryo-machine, use sharp single-flute tools, high speed/light cut and air blast to avoid melting and smearing.
Can PCL be welded?
Excellent thermal bonding: hot-plate, hot-air, ultrasonic or simple hot-water joining at 60–80 °C gives near-parent-strength welds; solvent bonding with dichloromethane also works.
Can PCL be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 90–140 °C melt with a chilled 10–25 °C mold and long cooling time; dry lightly (40 °C) since resin degrades hydrolytically above ~180 °C; thermoform or hand-form directly from 65 °C hot water.
PCL chemical composition (wt %)
Limits by weight percent from the governing specification, written the way the spec states them — a single maximum for impurities, a range for alloying elements, and the base element as balance. Nominal is the typical mid-range value.
| Element | Spec limit (wt %) | Nominal |
|---|---|---|
| stabiliser / antioxidantoptional in molding grades | 0 – 0.5 | 0.2 |
| ε-caprolactone (poly(ε-caprolactone) repring-opening polymerised, typically Sn(Oct)2 catalysed; residual monomer <1 % (medical grades <0.5 %) | balance |
What surface finishes work on PCL?
Not paintable or platable without flame/plasma treatment; sanding gums up, so prefer as-molded or heat-smoothed surfaces.
How much does PCL cost?
PCL is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PCL — frequently asked
What is PCL used for?
PCL is typically used for low-temp 3D printing pens/filament, hand-moldable prototyping putty, drug-delivery implants, biodegradable sutures and tissue engineering scaffolds. In short: lowest-melting biodegradable polyester; hand-formable at 60 °C; very tough, very compliant.
What is the yield strength of PCL?
PCL has a typical yield strength of 13 MPa (1.89 ksi) and a tensile strength of 22 MPa (3.19 ksi) — weaker than 86% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 4 listed tempers.
Is PCL easy to machine?
Not especially — machinability is rated poor (25/100, worse than 93% of polymer grades). Very soft and heat-sensitive — chill or cryo-machine, use sharp single-flute tools, high speed/light cut and air blast to avoid melting and smearing.
Can PCL be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated excellent (90/100). Excellent thermal bonding: hot-plate, hot-air, ultrasonic or simple hot-water joining at 60–80 °C gives near-parent-strength welds; solvent bonding with dichloromethane also works.
What surface finishes work on PCL?
Not paintable or platable without flame/plasma treatment; sanding gums up, so prefer as-molded or heat-smoothed surfaces.
Can PCL be formed, bent or molded?
Injection mold at 90–140 °C melt with a chilled 10–25 °C mold and long cooling time; dry lightly (40 °C) since resin degrades hydrolytically above ~180 °C; thermoform or hand-form directly from 65 °C hot water.
What is the maximum service temperature of PCL?
PCL is rated for continuous use to about 40°C (104 °F), and briefly to 55°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PCL cost?
PCL is a premium-cost polymer ($$$), cheaper than about 51% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
Sources
- CAPA 6000 series polycaprolactone thermoplastics — Perstorp (2021)
- Placcel H series / Placcel polyols technical data — Daicel (2020)
- Purasorb PC 12 resorbable polymer data sheet — Corbion (2022)
- Polymer Handbook, 4th ed. (aliphatic polyesters) — Wiley (1999)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector polycaprolactone entries — CAMPUS (2023)
Property data is compiled from published supplier and standards handbooks and normalised for comparison; hardness values on non-Brinell scales are converted approximately for charting only. Manufacturability limits are FabDigit quote-engine defaults and may be relaxed by engineering review. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.