<p>All plastics have two temperatures to consider for operation and evaluation: </p>

<ol>
<li><p>Melting point = the temperature that plastics starts to get soft; this can be considered for maximum temperature operation.</p></li>
<li><p>Flow temperature = normally used for molding process and this have a wide range of temperatures depending on PPM´s and mixtures to meet a purpose like coffee cups. <a href="https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Here</a> a link for filament temperature guides</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Polycarbonates are the most plastic used for industrial and kitchen appliances. Due higher temperatures support and hardness, so I think is not possible to use polycarbonates in 3D printers due its temperatures are from 250°C to 320°C.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-06-20T14:59:29.357Z
PC can be printed at 260℃ and a bed temperature of 110℃. It can be printed perfectly on 3D printers, you may consider using an all metal hot end though.
0scar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2017-11-23T06:19:58.553Z
2018-06-20T10:29:00.703Z
2018-06-20T10:29:00.703Z
Fernando Baltazar
<ul>
<li><p>Polycarbonate is <a href="https://rigid.ink/blogs/news/why-3d-print-with-polycarbonate-how-to-get-best-results" rel="noreferrer">heat-resistant up to ~120C</a>. Above this temperature it will gradually become flexible and may irreversibly bend. It will not generate any toxic fumes all the way up to ignition temperature (630C), because <a href="http://www.noxtat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/MSDS-SheetPC_TEC_2000_TEC_FUSION_2004.pdf" rel="noreferrer">it's fumes are not considered harmful</a>. Note though, that with your temperature limit you may not be able to print with polycarbonate, or only do so at a very low speed.</p></li>
<li><p>According to the <a href="https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide" rel="noreferrer">sheets of commercially available printable plastics</a>, PC has the highest printing temperature and heat resistance among them, seconded by nylon. This refers to the FDM printers only. SLS printers may be able to use other materials, even metals like aluminum or titanium, so if you really wish to get temperature-resistant prints, you may look for workshops that have SLS printers and ask them.</p></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-24T00:09:57.430Z
Is a greater infill better for high-temp prints?
Rafael
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-24T17:06:52.150Z
@Rafael, should be somewhat better. Greater infill will postpone the moment when heated print will collapse inside. Empty print with thin walls will do it very fast.
ZuOverture
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T03:51:43.103Z
Thanks! But can polycarbonate resist constant temperatures of ~ 120 °C, or if exposed for long periods of time will it eventually degrade?
Rafael
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T04:00:15.417Z
I've never used polycarbonate under permanently elevated temperatures. It will be able to withstand 100C for a long time, because PC coffee cups do exist. As you approach glass transition though, you may expect it to eventually degrade.
ZuOverture
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T08:13:39.787Z
[PLA coffee cups](http://www.plastics.gl/packaging/hot-stuff/) exist as well. I don't think you can draw any conclusions about the properties of 3D printed materials from the properties of specifically-engineered mass-produced products made from that same material. There's a lot more to it than "it's X plastic, therefore it melts at Y temperature".
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T08:24:41.257Z
@TomvanderZanden, the fact that coffee cups exist proves the plastic is able to withstand that temperature at least. I don't see where I was wrong saying this. 3D printing does not alter material properties to any significant extent.
ZuOverture
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T08:26:50.683Z
@ZuOverture No, my point is that it doesn't. There exist PLA coffee cups. Standard 3D printed PLA would not withstand boiling water (but it can be annealed after printing to make it withstand higher temperatures). I'm not sure what the deal with PC is, but just the fact they make coffee cups out of it does not mean a 3D printed object will withstand the same level of heat (and indeed, in the case of PLA, it doesn't).
Tom van der Zanden
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T08:29:10.980Z
@TomvanderZanden, if you read your own link carefully, you'll see that those cups aren't made with normal PLA.
ZuOverture
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-11-22T03:38:06.960Z
2017-11-22T04:21:14.260Z
2017-11-22T04:21:14.260Z
ZuOverture
<p>I recently backed a 3D printer on Kickstarter, and I would like to 3D print parts for high-temperature applications. So I have two questions; </p>

<ol>
<li><p>What's the highest temperature polycarbonate can be safely heated to without warping or releasing toxins?</p></li>
<li><p>If there's a filament with better temp-resistance I can print could you tell me? (If you know the highest temperature it could reach safely, that would be helpful too.)</p></li>
</ol>

<p>My 3D printer will have a heated bed up to 100°C, and an extruder temp of up to 250°C.</p>

<filament><health>
What are the safest temperatures to heat different filaments to?
Rafael
# What are the safest temperatures to heat different filaments to?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2017-11-22)

I recently backed a 3D printer on Kickstarter, and I would like to 3D print parts for high-temperature applications. So I have two questions;

1. What's the highest temperature polycarbonate can be safely heated to without warping or releasing toxins?
2. If there's a filament with better temp-resistance I can print could you tell me? (If you know the highest temperature it could reach safely, that would be helpful too.)

My 3D printer will have a heated bed up to 100°C, and an extruder temp of up to 250°C.

**Tags:** filament, health


---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_3 on 2017-11-22. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

* Polycarbonate is [heat-resistant up to ~120C](https://rigid.ink/blogs/news/why-3d-print-with-polycarbonate-how-to-get-best-results). Above this temperature it will gradually become flexible and may irreversibly bend. It will not generate any toxic fumes all the way up to ignition temperature (630C), because [it's fumes are not considered harmful](http://www.noxtat.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/MSDS-SheetPC_TEC_2000_TEC_FUSION_2004.pdf). Note though, that with your temperature limit you may not be able to print with polycarbonate, or only do so at a very low speed.
* According to the [sheets of commercially available printable plastics](https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide), PC has the highest printing temperature and heat resistance among them, seconded by nylon. This refers to the FDM printers only. SLS printers may be able to use other materials, even metals like aluminum or titanium, so if you really wish to get temperature-resistant prints, you may look for workshops that have SLS printers and ask them.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks! But can polycarbonate resist constant temperatures of ~ 120 °C, or if exposed for long periods of time will it eventually degrade?  
> **username_3**: I've never used polycarbonate under permanently elevated temperatures. It will be able to withstand 100C for a long time, because PC coffee cups do exist. As you approach glass transition though, you may expect it to eventually degrade.  
> **username_4**: [PLA coffee cups](http://www.plastics.gl/packaging/hot-stuff/) exist as well. I don't think you can draw any conclusions about the properties of 3D printed materials from the properties of specifically-engineered mass-produced products made from that same material. There's a lot more to it than "it's X plastic, therefore it melts at Y temperature".  
> **username_3**: @username_4, the fact that coffee cups exist proves the plastic is able to withstand that temperature at least. I don't see where I was wrong saying this. 3D printing does not alter material properties to any significant extent.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 No, my point is that it doesn't. There exist PLA coffee cups. Standard 3D printed PLA would not withstand boiling water (but it can be annealed after printing to make it withstand higher temperatures). I'm not sure what the deal with PC is, but just the fact they make coffee cups out of it does not mean a 3D printed object will withstand the same level of heat (and indeed, in the case of PLA, it doesn't).  
> **username_3**: @username_4, if you read your own link carefully, you'll see that those cups aren't made with normal PLA.  
> **username_0**: Is a greater infill better for high-temp prints?  
> **username_3**: @username_0, should be somewhat better. Greater infill will postpone the moment when heated print will collapse inside. Empty print with thin walls will do it very fast.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2017-11-23. Score: 2

All plastics have two temperatures to consider for operation and evaluation:

1. Melting point = the temperature that plastics starts to get soft; this can be considered for maximum temperature operation.
2. Flow temperature = normally used for molding process and this have a wide range of temperatures depending on PPM´s and mixtures to meet a purpose like coffee cups. [Here](https://filaments.ca/pages/temperature-guide) a link for filament temperature guides

Polycarbonates are the most plastic used for industrial and kitchen appliances. Due higher temperatures support and hardness, so I think is not possible to use polycarbonates in 3D printers due its temperatures are from 250°C to 320°C.

> **Comments:**
> **username_2**: PC can be printed at 260℃ and a bed temperature of 110℃. It can be printed perfectly on 3D printers, you may consider using an all metal hot end though.  

---

