PA-GF
Overview
PA-GF (Glass Fiber Reinforced Nylon) is an engineering-grade filament combining nylon (polyamide) with chopped glass fibers for exceptional stiffness, strength, and heat resistance. The glass fiber reinforcement dramatically increases rigidity and dimensional stability compared to unfilled nylon while maintaining good chemical resistance. It produces parts with a rough, matte surface finish typical of composites. Requires a hardened steel or ruby nozzle due to abrasive glass content. Ideal for functional prototypes, automotive parts, and industrial tooling.
Properties
Difficulty
expert
Pros
- Exceptional stiffness and strength
- High heat resistance (up to 120-150C)
- Excellent dimensional stability
- Low thermal expansion
- Good chemical resistance
- Abrasion resistant
- Engineering-grade mechanical properties
Cons
- Requires hardened steel or ruby nozzle
- Very hygroscopic — must be kept dry
- High print temps (260-290C)
- Warps significantly without enclosure
- Rough surface finish
- Abrasive to print surfaces
- Slow print speeds required
- Higher cost
Best For
- Automotive under-hood parts
- industrial tooling
- functional prototypes
- drone components
- brackets and mounts
- gears and pulleys
- high-temp fixtures