ABS and polycarbonate are common next steps when PLA or PETG softens too easily. Both print hot, both warp, and both benefit from an enclosure, so the hardware they need overlaps. The difference shows in the finished part: PC is stronger and stiffer with a higher heat rating, while ABS bends further and takes more impact before it breaks.
This page compares Polymaker PolyLite ABS and PolyLite PC, two grades from the same supplier tested with the same ISO methods on 100% infill specimens printed at 260 °C in a 90 °C environment. Prusa's material guides add handling notes, written mostly for its own Prusament grades, including PC Blend. Blends such as PC-ABS, and other brands, will differ.
ABS and Polycarbonate blends side by side
| Property | ABS | Polycarbonate blends |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 245–265 °C (PolyLite ABS); Prusa: 255 °C | 250–270 °C (PolyLite PC); Prusa: 275 °C for PC Blend |
| Bed temperature | 90–100 °C (PolyLite ABS); Prusa: 100 °C, adjustable 80–110 °C | 90–105 °C (PolyLite PC); Prusa: 110 °C first layer, 115 °C after |
| Enclosure | Needed, ambient temperature (Polymaker); Prusa: enclosure, or a draft shield without one | Chamber needed at 70–100 °C (Polymaker); Prusa: strongly recommended |
| Build surface | PC or textured PEI, glue when needed (Polymaker); Prusa: smooth or powder-coated PEI with glue stick | Textured PEI, glue when needed (Polymaker); Prusa: textured or satin sheet with glue, not smooth PEI |
| Heat deflection, ISO 75 (1.8 / 0.45 MPa) | 98 °C / 100 °C | 107 °C / 111 °C |
| Vicat softening (ISO 306) / glass transition | 104 °C / 101 °C | 120 °C / 113 °C |
| Tensile strength, ISO 527 (X-Y / Z) | 33.4 / 29.7 MPa | 69.1 / 52.8 MPa |
| Tensile modulus, ISO 527 (X-Y) | 2246.6 MPa | 2497 MPa |
| Elongation at break (X-Y / Z) | 17.9% / 3.1% | 4.8% / 2.7% |
| Flexural strength, ISO 178 (X-Y) | 56.2 MPa | 106.1 MPa |
| Notched Charpy impact, ISO 179 (X-Y) | 18.0 kJ/m² | 4.1 kJ/m² |
| Drying and annealing | Dry 70 °C for 6 h; no annealing listed (Polymaker) | Dry 75 °C for 6 h; anneal 90 °C for 2 h right after printing (Polymaker) |
| Light transmission | Not stated | 89% (PolyLite PC, GB/T 2410) |
| Fumes and odor | Polymaker: low-volatile ABS resin, minimal odor; Prusa: ABS can release styrene fumes, ventilate | Prusa lists odor during printing as a drawback |
| Acetone smoothing and gluing | Prusa: smooths with acetone vapor and glues with acetone | Not stated |
Property values come from Polymaker's PolyLite ABS (V5.5) and PolyLite PC technical data sheets (ISO methods; 100% infill specimens printed at 260 °C in a 90 °C environment), with printing and safety guidance from Prusa's ABS and polycarbonate articles.
Heat resistance
On every heat measure Polymaker reports, PolyLite PC sits above PolyLite ABS: 107 °C against 98 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa, 120 °C against 104 °C Vicat softening, and a 113 °C glass transition against 101 °C. The margin is real but not dramatic, so for parts that see about 90 °C the other differences may matter more.
Prusa lists good high-temperature resistance as a strength of ABS and high heat tolerance as a strength of PC. Its ABS guide even suggests printing fan shrouds and other printer parts in PC Blend when an enclosure runs hot enough to deform them.
Strength versus toughness
PolyLite PC is about twice as strong as PolyLite ABS in tension, 69.1 MPa against 33.4 MPa in the print plane, and nearly twice as strong in bending, 106.1 MPa against 56.2 MPa. It also holds up better across layers, at 52.8 MPa against 29.7 MPa in the Z direction.
ABS fails more gradually. It stretches 17.9% before breaking in-plane against 4.8% for PC, and its notched Charpy value is 18.0 kJ/m² against 4.1 kJ/m². In practice that points PC toward rigid, loaded parts and ABS toward parts that get dropped, snapped or knocked. A print in the real orientation, loaded the way it will be used, is a better check than either data sheet.
Warping and the print environment
Both materials warp. Prusa says ABS parts shrink by roughly 1 to 2% after cooling and recommends an enclosure, or PrusaSlicer's draft shield when there is none. Polymaker lists an enclosure at ambient temperature for PolyLite ABS but a heated 70 to 100 °C chamber for PolyLite PC.
Prusa calls polycarbonate very hard to print and suited to advanced users, says it warps heavily on large parts, and notes that its PC Blend uses additives to make printing much easier than pure PC. Its tips include avoiding parts that cover the whole bed, rounding sharp corners, and not printing in rooms below about 18 °C, which can trigger a bed thermal runaway error on its printers.
Fumes, moisture and finishing
Prusa warns that ABS can release potentially dangerous styrene fumes and recommends a well-ventilated room without drafts across the print. Polymaker says PolyLite ABS uses a bulk-polymerized ABS resin with lower volatile content and minimal odor; that is a manufacturer claim, and ventilation still applies. Prusa lists odor during printing as one of PC's drawbacks.
Moisture matters more for PC. Prusa says pure polycarbonate is very hygroscopic and should be stored airtight and dried, while PC Blend absorbs much less. Polymaker lists an equilibrium water absorption of 0.35% for PolyLite ABS and drying at 75 °C for 6 hours for PolyLite PC, plus a 90 °C, 2-hour anneal right after printing to relieve internal stress. ABS is the easier material to finish: Prusa notes it can be smoothed and glued with acetone.
Which should you choose?
Choose ABS if…
- The part will be dropped or knocked, where PolyLite ABS's 18.0 kJ/m² notched Charpy value matters.
- You plan to smooth or glue the part with acetone.
- Your enclosure is unheated and cannot reach the 70–100 °C chamber Polymaker lists for PC.
- Service temperatures stay well below PolyLite ABS's 98 °C heat deflection temperature.
Choose Polycarbonate blends if…
- The part must carry load when hot, given PolyLite PC's 107 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa.
- You need higher strength, including across layers (52.8 MPa Z against 29.7 MPa).
- A translucent part helps; Polymaker lists 89% light transmission for PolyLite PC.
- The part resembles Prusa's polycarbonate examples, such as fan shrouds, hinges and covers.
Common questions
Is polycarbonate stronger than ABS?
In tension and bending, yes: Polymaker lists 69.1 MPa tensile strength for PolyLite PC against 33.4 MPa for PolyLite ABS. ABS is tougher in a different sense. It stretches further before breaking and absorbs more energy in the notched Charpy test (18.0 against 4.1 kJ/m²).
Can I print polycarbonate in an unheated enclosure?
Polymaker lists a 70 to 100 °C chamber as needed for PolyLite PC, against an ambient-temperature enclosure for ABS. Prusa strongly recommends an enclosure for PC and, without one, suggests centering the part, using a high skirt and adding a brim. Large PC parts are the most likely to warp.
Which smells less while printing?
Polymaker says PolyLite ABS uses a low-volatile resin with minimal odor, while Prusa warns that ABS in general can release styrene fumes. Prusa lists odor as a drawback of PC. Ventilate for both and follow the safety data sheet for your exact filament.
Sources
- PolyLite ABS technical data sheet (V5.5) Polymaker · Checked 2026-11-02
- PolyLite PC technical data sheet Polymaker · Checked 2026-11-02
- ABS Prusa Research · Checked 2026-10-15
- Polycarbonate (PC) Prusa Research · Checked 2026-10-15
This comparison summarizes the cited documentation; it is not a lab test. Properties vary by brand, grade, print settings and orientation, so check the data sheet for the exact product you buy.