Nylon and polycarbonate are both engineering filaments that ask more of the printer than PETG or ABS. They need hot nozzles and dry filament, and they reward an enclosure. They differ in how they behave once printed: polycarbonate is rigid and holds up under heat, while nylon is tough, wear-resistant and changes noticeably as it absorbs moisture.
This page compares Polymaker's PolyMide CoPA nylon and PolyLite PC, two grades from the same supplier tested with the same ISO methods. Polymaker reports CoPA both dry and after water soaking, which shows how moisture changes nylon. Prusa's guides add printing and safety notes. Filled grades, such as carbon-fiber nylon, and PC blends behave differently.
Nylon / polyamide and Polycarbonate blends side by side
| Property | Nylon / polyamide | Polycarbonate blends |
|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 250–270 °C (PolyMide CoPA); Prusa: 285 °C | 250–270 °C (PolyLite PC); Prusa: 275 °C |
| Bed temperature | 25–50 °C (PolyMide CoPA); Prusa: 110 °C | 90–105 °C (PolyLite PC); Prusa: 110 °C first layer, 115 °C after |
| Enclosure | Needed, ambient temperature (Polymaker); Prusa: an enclosure helps a lot with warping | Chamber needed at 70–100 °C (Polymaker); Prusa: strongly recommended |
| Build surface | PC or textured PEI, glue when needed (Polymaker); Prusa: PA Nylon sheet | Textured PEI, glue when needed (Polymaker); Prusa: textured or satin sheet with glue, not bare smooth PEI |
| Moisture sensitivity | Polymaker: store and use below 20% RH; Prusa: can absorb up to 10% of its weight in water | Prusa: most polycarbonates very hygroscopic; PC Blend absorbs much less |
| Drying | 100 °C for 8 h (Polymaker); Prusa: at least 4 h below 90 °C | 75 °C for 6 h (Polymaker); Prusa lists 85 °C for 5 h for Prusament PC Blend |
| Annealing | 80 °C for 6 h (Polymaker) | 90 °C for 2 h, right after printing (Polymaker) |
| Heat deflection, ISO 75 (1.8 / 0.45 MPa) | 70 °C / 111 °C | 107 °C / 111 °C |
| Tensile strength, ISO 527 (X-Y / Z) | Dry: 78.0 / 45.8 MPa; wet: 34.3 / 13.7 MPa | 69.1 / 52.8 MPa |
| Tensile modulus, ISO 527 (X-Y) | Dry: 2703 MPa; wet: 724 MPa | 2497 MPa |
| Notched Charpy impact, ISO 179 (X-Y) | Dry: 6.9 kJ/m²; wet: 27.7 kJ/m² | 4.1 kJ/m² |
| Fumes and ventilation | Prusa: strong odor and potentially dangerous ultrafine particles; ventilated room or enclosure | Prusa: moderate odor during printing |
Property values come from Polymaker's PolyMide CoPA and PolyLite PC technical data sheets (same ISO test methods; CoPA reported dry and water-soaked), with printing and safety guidance from Prusa's polyamide, polycarbonate and drying articles.
Heat under load
Under the higher 1.8 MPa ISO 75 load, Polymaker lists a heat deflection temperature of 107 °C for PolyLite PC and 70 °C for PolyMide CoPA. Under the lighter 0.45 MPa load, both reach 111 °C. Read together, the figures suggest the PC is the safer choice for a rigid part carrying meaningful load when warm, while the nylon handles heat better when the load is light.
Prusa's guides describe both families as heat resistant: high-temperature resistance appears among the pros for polycarbonate, and excellent thermal resistance among the pros for polyamide.
Moisture changes nylon
Polymaker tested PolyMide CoPA twice: dry, after annealing and 48 hours of drying, and wet, after 48 hours in 60 °C water, which left an average moisture content of 6.16%. The wet bars were far less stiff, with tensile modulus falling from 2,703 MPa to 724 MPa and in-plane tensile strength from 78.0 MPa to 34.3 MPa. Notched Charpy impact rose from 6.9 kJ/m² to 27.7 kJ/m².
Real parts in normal room air will usually sit somewhere between those two states, and Polymaker does not report an intermediate value. The practical point is that a nylon part becomes more flexible and impact tolerant as it takes on water, but less stiff. PolyLite PC has one set of values: 69.1 MPa tensile strength in-plane, 2,497 MPa modulus and 4.1 kJ/m² notched Charpy.
Printing and drying
Both materials need dry filament. Prusa calls polyamide highly hygroscopic, able to absorb up to 10% of its weight in water, and says moist nylon bubbles and prints rough. Polymaker recommends using CoPA below 20% relative humidity and drying it at 100 °C for 8 hours. Prusa says most polycarbonates are very hygroscopic too, though PC Blend absorbs much less; Polymaker lists 75 °C for 6 hours for PolyLite PC.
Polymaker lists a heated chamber of 70 to 100 °C as needed for PolyLite PC, and an enclosure at ambient temperature for CoPA. Prusa strongly recommends an enclosure for PC and says one helps a lot with nylon warping. Prusa also notes that pure polycarbonate is hard to print, and that its PC Blend contains additives that make it much easier. Prusa calls nylon very hard to print and recommends it for experienced users.
Fumes and post-processing
Prusa warns that polyamide gives off a strong odor and potentially dangerous ultrafine particles and recommends a well-ventilated room or an enclosure. For polycarbonate, Prusa notes a moderate odor. Polymaker recommends annealing both: CoPA at 80 °C for 6 hours and PolyLite PC at 90 °C for 2 hours, right after printing.
Which should you choose?
Choose Nylon / polyamide if…
- The part slides or wears against other parts, such as gears, where Prusa highlights nylon's abrasion resistance and low friction.
- The part must flex in thin sections or absorb impacts, which improves as nylon takes on moisture.
- Heat exposure is moderate or the load at temperature is light.
- You can keep filament dry and print in a ventilated enclosure.
Choose Polycarbonate blends if…
- The part must stay rigid under load when warm, given PolyLite PC's 107 °C heat deflection at 1.8 MPa.
- Dimensional stability matters more than flexibility.
- The part resembles Prusa's polycarbonate examples, such as fan shrouds, covers and hinges.
- You have a heated enclosure and a hotend that handles the 250–270 °C range Polymaker lists.
Common questions
Is nylon or polycarbonate stronger?
Dry PolyMide CoPA has higher in-plane tensile strength than PolyLite PC in Polymaker's data (78.0 against 69.1 MPa), but after water soaking it drops to 34.3 MPa. PC is stronger across layers and keeps its properties without the moisture swing.
Which needs more drying?
Both need dry filament. Prusa says nylon can absorb up to 10% of its weight in water, and Polymaker lists 100 °C for 8 hours for CoPA against 75 °C for 6 hours for PolyLite PC.
Can I print these without an enclosure?
Polymaker lists an enclosure as needed for both grades, and a 70 to 100 °C chamber for PolyLite PC. Prusa notes that carbon-fiber-filled PA11 warps much less and can be printed without one.
Sources
- PolyMide CoPA technical data sheet Polymaker · Checked 2026-11-02
- PolyLite PC technical data sheet Polymaker · Checked 2026-11-02
- Polyamide (Nylon) Prusa Research · Checked 2026-10-15
- Polycarbonate (PC) Prusa Research · Checked 2026-10-15
- Drying filament 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.