PLA-CF
also CF PLA, PLA CF
PLA-CF is polylactic acid compounded with 5–20 wt% chopped/milled carbon fiber, sold mainly as 1.75/2.85 mm FDM filament and as pellets for pellet extrusion.
Values for the CF15 condition
PLA-CF grades and fills
PLA-CF is supplied in 6 conditions, soft to hard. CF15 is the default FabDigit quotes; the values on this page are for it.
Compare all 6 grades and fillsHide
| Grade · open for datasheet | Best for | Yield MPa | Tensile MPa | Elong. % | Hardness |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tough / impact-modified PLA-CF blend | PLA-CF blended with an impact modifier or co-polyester (the common 'PLA Blend CF' / 'Tough PLA-CF' filaments) when brittleness of straight CF PLA is the failure mode. | 40 | 45 | 5 | 74 Shore D |
~20 wt% (or higher) carbon fiber, high-stiffness grade | Maximum stiffness and lowest CTE/warp for jigs, drone frames and dimensional fixtures; very brittle and highly abrasive, needs ruby/carbide nozzle and ≥0.5 mm bore. | 48 | 1.2 | ||
Annealed | Post-print anneal on constrained parts to raise stiffness and heat resistance and relieve print stress; expect 0.3–2% shrinkage/distortion and further loss of ductility. | 50 | 55 | 1.3 | 82 Shore D |
CF15Default ~15 wt% chopped carbon fiber | The mainstream PLA-CF filament loading: best balance of stiffness, matte finish, low warp and printability with a hardened 0.4–0.6 mm nozzle. | 52 | 2 | ||
~5–10 wt% carbon fiber | Pick when you want the matte look and reduced warp of CF PLA but need better flow, less nozzle wear and more residual toughness. | 55 | 3.5 | ||
crystallizing / annealable high-temperature CF PLA | Nucleated PLA (often PLLA/stereocomplex) + CF that can be oven-annealed to crystallize, raising usable temperature well above Tg; choose for parts that see 80–120 °C. | 55 | 1.5 |
Supply forms, finishes and certifications
Ways PLA-CF is supplied — form, process route, surface or paperwork — without a datasheet of their own. The property values above apply.
| Option | What it is | Type |
|---|---|---|
PELLET | Pellet / compound grade for pellet extrusion & injection molding | Supply form |
What is PLA-CF?
PLA-CF is polylactic acid compounded with 5–20 wt% chopped/milled carbon fiber, sold mainly as 1.75/2.85 mm FDM filament and as pellets for pellet extrusion. The fiber roughly doubles stiffness, removes most of PLA's warp and stringing, and gives a dry matte-black finish with excellent dimensional stability, at the cost of brittleness (elongation ~2%) and heavy nozzle abrasion. Heat resistance is still limited by PLA's ~55–60 °C Tg unless a crystallizing/annealable (HTPLA-CF) compound is used and the part is heat-treated. PLA-CF has a density of 1.28 g/cm³ (0.0462 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 58°C (136 °F). PLA-CF has a tensile strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi), stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 6 GPa (0.87 Msi).
What is PLA-CF used for?
- Stiff prototypes
- Jigs & fixtures
- Drone frames
Advantages
- Low, predictable mold shrinkage — 0.3%, better than 90% of polymer grades
- Stiff — 6 GPa (0.87 Msi), better than 89% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 2%, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 55/100, worse than 94% of polymer grades
- Limited service temperature — 55°C (131 °F), worse than 91% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 10/100, worse than 87% of polymer grades
PLA-CF properties
Typical room-temperature values for PLA-CF-CF15; bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PLA-CF has a density of 1.28 g/cm³ (0.0462 lb/in³), heavier than 67% of polymer grades. Its glass-transition temperature is 58°C (136 °F).
Mechanical10
PLA-CF has a tensile strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi), stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 2% and the elastic modulus is 6 GPa (0.87 Msi).
Thermal11
PLA-CF is rated for continuous service to 55°C (131 °F). It conducts heat at 0.25 W/m·K (0.144 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 72% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 45 µm/m·K (25 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
PLA-CF has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (55/100), worse than 94% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PLA-CF takes about 85 MJ of energy and emits 4.5 kg of CO₂ — less than 79% of polymer grades. Typical recycled content is 5%.
Manufacturability8
PLA-CF's machinability is good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades); weldability poor (25/100); formability not recommended (10/100).
Common Calculations4
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. PLA-CF is highlighted; hover a dot for its name, or open the interactive family chart.
Working with PLA-CF
Is PLA-CF easy to machine?
Drills, mills and turns easily with sharp carbide and high rpm/low feed, but the fiber is abrasive and the 55 °C Tg means dry cutting, air blast and no coolant heat — use dust extraction for CF particulate.
Can PLA-CF be welded?
Not a structural weld candidate; use hot-plate/ultrasonic staking for light joints or cyanoacrylate/epoxy bonding after abrading the fiber-rich skin (acetone does not solvent-weld PLA).
Can PLA-CF be formed, bent or molded?
Print at 200–230 °C with a hardened/ruby ≥0.4 mm nozzle, bed 45–60 °C, dried filament (45 °C, 4 h); fiber cuts warp and stringing but raises nozzle wear and clog risk — avoid tight bowden paths and keep retraction low.
Manufacturability
The process limits FabDigit's quote engine applies to PLA-CF. Design inside these and the part quotes instantly; outside them it routes to an engineer.
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 |
PLA-CF 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 |
|---|---|---|
| carbon fiber (chopped/milled)PAN-based short fiber, 50–150 µm typical length after compounding | 5 – 20 | 15 |
| impact modifier / co-polyesterpresent only in tough/blend grades | 0 – 10 | 0 |
| nucleating agent, chain extender, procestalc/nucleant for annealable grades, lubricant for extrusion | 0.2 – 2 | 1 |
| polylactic acid (PLA/PLLA)Ingeo-type L-lactide polyester matrix; HTPLA grades use nucleated/high-L-content PLA | ≥ 78 (balance) |
What surface finishes work on PLA-CF?
Comes off the printer matte black and hides layer lines; light sanding, bead-blasting or a matte clear coat is the practical route — it cannot be polished to gloss, vapor-smoothed, or painted well without primer.
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
Coloring
Metallization / Functional
Equivalent designations
Standards and trade names that resolve to PLA-CF in FabDigit's catalog. Equivalence is nominal — check the exact specification when certification matters.
- Trade names
- CF PLAPLA CF
- Also called
- Carbon Fiber PLA
How much does PLA-CF cost?
PLA-CF is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 100% 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.
PLA-CF — frequently asked
What is PLA-CF used for?
PLA-CF is typically used for stiff prototypes, jigs & fixtures and drone frames. In short: stiff carbon-filled PLA.
What is the tensile strength of PLA-CF?
PLA-CF has a typical tensile strength of 52 MPa (7.54 ksi) — stronger than 56% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PLA-CF easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (60/100, better than 51% of polymer grades). Drills, mills and turns easily with sharp carbide and high rpm/low feed, but the fiber is abrasive and the 55 °C Tg means dry cutting, air blast and no coolant heat — use dust extraction for CF particulate.
Can PLA-CF be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (25/100). Not a structural weld candidate; use hot-plate/ultrasonic staking for light joints or cyanoacrylate/epoxy bonding after abrading the fiber-rich skin (acetone does not solvent-weld PLA).
What surface finishes work on PLA-CF?
Comes off the printer matte black and hides layer lines; light sanding, bead-blasting or a matte clear coat is the practical route — it cannot be polished to gloss, vapor-smoothed, or painted well without primer.
Can PLA-CF be formed, bent or molded?
Print at 200–230 °C with a hardened/ruby ≥0.4 mm nozzle, bed 45–60 °C, dried filament (45 °C, 4 h); fiber cuts warp and stringing but raises nozzle wear and clog risk — avoid tight bowden paths and keep retraction low.
What is the maximum service temperature of PLA-CF?
PLA-CF is rated for continuous use to about 55°C (131 °F), and briefly to 70°C. Strength falls off well before that limit — check the elevated-temperature data for load-bearing parts.
What is the difference between PLA-CF CF15 and PLA-CF AN?
CF15 is the default condition — the mainstream PLA-CF filament loading: best balance of stiffness, matte finish, low warp and printability with a hardened 0.4–0.6 mm nozzle. AN: post-print anneal on constrained parts to raise stiffness and heat resistance and relieve print stress; expect 0.3–2% shrinkage/distortion and further loss of ductility.
How much does PLA-CF cost?
PLA-CF is a standard-cost polymer ($$), cheaper than about 100% 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 PLA-CF?
Yes — PLA-CF is available for 3D printing with instant online pricing. Upload a STEP file to get a price and a DFM check.
Sources
- Carbon Fiber HTPLA / Carbon Fiber PLA filament technical data — Proto-pasta (ProtoPlant) (2023)
- PolyLite PLA-CF / PolyMide series TDS — Polymaker (2024)
- PLA-CF filament technical data sheet — Bambu Lab (2024)
- Ingeo Biopolymer 3D / 4043D technical data — NatureWorks (2022)
- ASTM D638 / D790 / D256 test methods for plastics — ASTM International (2022)
- CAMPUS / UL Prospector PLA compound property records — CWFG / UL (2024)
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.