PLA-CF AN (Annealed)
Print state
also CF PLA, PLA CF
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.
Values for the AN condition
Other PLA-CF grades and fills
PLA-CF is listed in 6 conditions; see the grade overview at PLA-CF.
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 | — |
ANThis page 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 | — |
What is PLA-CF AN?
PLA-CF AN is PLA-CF in the AN condition — 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. PLA-CF AN has a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi), stronger than 61% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.3% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi). PLA-CF AN 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). CF15 is the default condition FabDigit quotes; AN is available on request or by drawing note.
Advantages
- Stiff — 7 GPa (1.02 Msi), better than 90% of polymer grades
- Conducts heat well — 0.27 W/m·K (0.156 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of polymer grades
Limitations
- Limited ductility — 1.3%, worse than 98% of polymer grades
- Limited formability — 5/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Hard to polish — 20/100, worse than 95% of polymer grades
- Needs corrosion protection — 60/100, worse than 89% of polymer grades
- Difficult to weld — 18/100, worse than 76% of polymer grades
PLA-CF AN properties
Typical room-temperature values for PLA-CF AN; 25 are specific to this condition. Other listed values are PLA-CF reference data and may not represent this condition. Bars are the position among polymer grades.
Physical5
PLA-CF AN 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 AN has a tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi), stronger than 61% of polymer grades. Elongation at break is 1.3% and the elastic modulus is 7 GPa (1.02 Msi).
Thermal11
PLA-CF AN is rated for continuous service to 85°C (185 °F). It conducts heat at 0.27 W/m·K (0.156 BTU/hr·ft·°F), better than 78% of polymer grades. Thermal expansion is 45 µm/m·K (25 µin/in·°F).
Electrical3
PLA-CF AN has an electrical resistivity of 1×10⁷ Ω·m.
Chemical & Environmental3
Corrosion resistance is good (60/100), worse than 89% of polymer grades. UV resistance is poor.
Sustainability4
Producing a kilogram of PLA-CF AN 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 AN's machinability is good (55/100, worse than 64% of polymer grades); weldability poor (18/100); formability not recommended (5/100).
Values are nominal handbook figures for design screening. Confirm any required mill or lot documentation when quoting.
Working with PLA-CF AN
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.
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.
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) | — |
PLA-CF AN — frequently asked
What is PLA-CF AN used for?
PLA-CF AN 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 AN?
PLA-CF AN has a typical tensile strength of 55 MPa (7.98 ksi) — stronger than 61% of polymer grades. Strength varies by condition: see the 6 listed tempers.
Is PLA-CF AN easy to machine?
Reasonably — machinability is rated good (55/100, worse than 64% 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 AN be welded?
Not readily — weldability is rated poor (18/100). 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 AN?
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 AN 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 AN?
PLA-CF AN is rated for continuous use to about 85°C (185 °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.
Can FabDigit make parts in PLA-CF AN?
Yes — PLA-CF AN 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. Nothing on this page is a certification — request mill certs, CoC or material test reports with your order.