PETG
PETG is an amorphous glycol-modified copolyester in which CHDM (cyclohexanedimethanol) replaces part of the ethylene glycol in PET, giving a clear, tough material that extrudes easily into sheet and 3D-printing filament with low shrinkage and without PC-level drying or hot moulds.
PETG grades and fills
PETG is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FDM/FFF printed PETG (XY direction, typical settings) | Use these de-rated values for FDM-printed PETG parts; expect 40–60% of molded strength in Z. | 38 | 40 | 8 | |
Antistatic / static-dissipative PETG | Pick for electronics handling trays, guards and cleanroom fixtures needing 10^6–10^9 Ω surface resistivity. | 45 | 45 | 25 | 79 Shore D |
Flame-retardant PETG | Pick for electrical enclosures, transit interiors and machine guards requiring V-0 at 1.5–3 mm. | 45 | 45 | 40 | 79 Shore D |
Carbon-fiber reinforced PETG | Pick for stiffer, more dimensionally stable printed parts with matte black finish; brittle and abrasive to nozzles. | 48 | 3 | ||
extruded PETG sheet / general-purpose grade | Pick for stock extruded sheet used in glazing, machine guards, signage and thermoforming. | 50 | 50 | 130 | 78 Shore D |
Glass-fiber reinforced PETG | Pick when stiffness, creep resistance and lower shrinkage matter more than transparency or toughness. | 65 | 3 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PETG is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
FDA | FDA / food-contact grade PETG | Certification |
MED | Medical grade PETG | Certification |
UV | UV-stabilized / weatherable PETG sheet | Grade option |
UnfilledDefault | Unfilled | Standard supply |
What is PETG?
PETG is an amorphous glycol-modified copolyester in which CHDM (cyclohexanedimethanol) replaces part of the ethylene glycol in PET, giving a clear, tough material that extrudes easily into sheet and 3D-printing filament with low shrinkage and without PC-level drying or hot moulds. Unfilled it runs 1.27 g/cm³, 50 MPa tensile strength, 120% elongation and 2.1 GPa modulus, serving clear guards, display and light-box panels, food-contact parts and FDM prints. Limits are low heat resistance (Tg ≈ 80 °C, about 60–65 °C long term), modest stiffness, poor resistance to acetone and ester solvents, and yellowing outdoors without UV stabiliser; polycarbonate is the step up. PETG has a density of 1.27 g/cm³ (0.0459 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F). PETG has a yield strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 52% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 120% and the elastic modulus is 2.1 GPa (0.305 Msi).
What is PETG used for?
- Transparent machine guards
- Retail displays and shelf fixtures
- Light-box and signage panels
- Food-contact parts and containers
- Bottles
- Medical device housings
- FDM functional prototypes
Advantages
- Readily welded — 80/100, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.35%, better than 86% of polymer grades
- Forms and bends easily — 88/100, better than 85% of polymer grades
- Polishes to a fine finish — 72/100, better than 84% of polymer grades
- Low embodied carbon — 3.2 kg CO₂/kg, better than 81% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited service temperature — 63°C (145 °F), worse than 85% of polymer grades
PETG properties
Typical room-temperature values in the Unfilled condition; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical6
PETG has a density of 1.27 g/cm³ (0.0459 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 80°C (176 °F).
Mechanical12
PETG has a yield strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 52% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 120% and the elastic modulus is 2.1 GPa (0.305 Msi).
Thermal11
PETG is rated for continuous service to 63°C (145 °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 68 µm/m·K (37.8 µin/in·°F).
Electrical6
PETG is an electrical insulator with a dielectric strength of 16 kV/mm (406.4 V/mil) and a resistivity of 1×10¹⁴ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is excellent (85/100), better than 65% of polymer grades. UV resistance is fair.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PETG takes about 84 MJ of energy and emits 3.2 kg of CO₂ — less than 81% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 0%.
Manufacturability7
PETG's machinability is good (65/100, better than 66% of polymer grades); weldability very good (80/100); formability excellent (88/100).
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. PETG is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PETG
Is PETG easy to machine?
Machines and routes well with sharp, polished, high-rake tools and air blast; keep feeds high and coolant/mist on to avoid gumming and edge crazing, and avoid stress at drilled holes.
Can PETG be welded?
Excellent hot-plate, hot-gas, ultrasonic and RF/high-frequency welding; solvent bonds with cyclohexanone/MEK-based cements and glues well with cyanoacrylate or two-part urethane.
Can PETG be formed, bent or molded?
Thermoforms at 120–160 °C with little pre-drying and cold-bends without stress-whitening; inject at 230–260 °C melt / 10–40 °C mold, dry pellets 4 h at 65 °C to prevent hydrolytic splay.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to PETG. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
CNC machining
| Machinability | Excellent65 / 100 |
|---|---|
| ISO material group | N.8 |
| Cutting speed (rough / finish) | 400 / 500 m/min |
| Minimum wall | 0.5 mm |
| Minimum internal radius | 1 mm |
| Drill depth limit | 10× diameter |
| Best surface (machined / polished) | Ra 0.8 / — |
| Hardenable after machining | No |
Sheet metal
| Formability | Excellent88 / 100 |
|---|---|
| Weldability | Excellent80 / 100 |
Injection molding
| Mold shrinkage | — |
|---|---|
| Wall thickness | — – — |
| Recommended draft | — |
| Pre-drying | — |
3D printing
| Technologies | FDM |
|---|---|
| Layer height | 50 – 300 µmdefault 100 µm |
| Minimum wall / feature | 1 / 0.5 mm |
| Build envelope | 300 × 300 × 380 mm |
| Supports | Yes |
| Anisotropy | Moderate |
PETG 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 |
|---|---|---|
| terephthalate (PTA/DMT) repeat unitacid component of the copolyester backbone (mol basis) | 48 – 52 | 50 |
| 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol (CHDM) unit~30 mol% of the glycol fraction; suppresses crystallinity (amorphous) | 12 – 20 | 16 |
| additives (stabilizers, colorants, UV/FRgrade dependent; fillers listed separately per variant | 0 – 15 | 1 |
| ethylene glycol unitglycol component balance | ≥ 30 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PETG?
Takes screen/digital printing, hard-coating and vacuum metallizing; edges can be sanded and buffed (flame polishing is riskier than for acrylic), and paint/adhesive systems must be solvent-checked for crazing.
Surface treatments FabDigit runs on polymer parts — pick them in the quote configurator or call them out on the drawing. Each links to its datasheet in the surface-finish library (thickness, specs, call-out, material verdicts).
Coating
Injection Molding Coating
Organic Coating
Metallization / Functional
Coloring
How much does PETG cost?
PETG is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 82% of the materials FabDigit quotes. Part price depends far more on geometry, tolerance and quantity than on the raw stock — upload a CAD file for a live quote.
PETG — frequently asked
What is PETG used for?
PETG is typically used for transparent machine guards, retail displays and shelf fixtures, light-box and signage panels, food-contact parts and containers, bottles and medical device housings. In short: versatile tough plastic.
What is the yield strength of PETG?
PETG has a typical yield strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) and a tensile strength of 50 MPa (7.25 ksi) — stronger than 52% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PETG easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (65/100, better than 66% of polymer grades). Machines and routes well with sharp, polished, high-rake tools and air blast; keep feeds high and coolant/mist on to avoid gumming and edge crazing, and avoid stress at drilled holes.
Can PETG be welded?
Yes — weldability is rated very good (80/100). Excellent hot-plate, hot-gas, ultrasonic and RF/high-frequency welding; solvent bonds with cyclohexanone/MEK-based cements and glues well with cyanoacrylate or two-part urethane.
What surface finishes work on PETG?
Takes screen/digital printing, hard-coating and vacuum metallizing; edges can be sanded and buffed (flame polishing is riskier than for acrylic), and paint/adhesive systems must be solvent-checked for crazing.
Can PETG be formed, bent or molded?
Thermoforms at 120–160 °C with little pre-drying and cold-bends without stress-whitening; inject at 230–260 °C melt / 10–40 °C mold, dry pellets 4 h at 65 °C to prevent hydrolytic splay.
What is the maximum service temperature of PETG?
PETG is rated for continuous use to about 63°C (145 °F), and briefly to 75°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
How much does PETG cost?
PETG is a budget-cost polymer ($), cheaper than about 82% 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.
Can FabDigit make parts in PETG?
Yes — PETG is available for CNC machining, sheet metal, injection molding and 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Eastman Eastar / Spectar copolyester (PETG) product data — Eastman Chemical (2023)
- SKYGREEN PETG resin grades data sheets — SK Chemicals (2022)
- CAMPUS plastics database — PETG copolyester ISO data sets — CWFG / CAMPUS (2024)
- ISO 527-2 / ISO 178 / ISO 75 / ISO 306 test methods — ISO (2019)
- ASTM D256 / D638 / D648 / D785 test methods — ASTM (2022)
- Ensinger / Curbell semi-finished PETG sheet technical data — Ensinger, Curbell Plastics (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.