Self-extinguishing polycarbonate for demanding technical applications

Polymaker PolyMax PC-FR Black is a professional PC filament based on polycarbonate from Covestro's Makrolon® product family. It combines high strength, toughness, heat resistance, and limited flammability, making it suitable for functional parts used in demanding environments.

The material achieves the UL 94 V-0 classification at a specimen thickness of 1.5 mm. When used correctly, it can slow the spread of flames and quickly extinguish after the ignition source is removed. The filament was tested according to the IEC 60695-11-10 method.

Strong and heat-resistant prints

PolyMax PC-FR uses Nano Reinforcement technology, which helps maintain balanced mechanical properties even after the addition of a flame retardant. Printed parts offer a tensile strength of approximately 67 MPa in the XY plane, a flexural strength of approximately 96.6 MPa, and a heat deflection temperature under load of up to 110 °C.

Thanks to these properties, it is suitable, for example, for:

• electronic enclosures and holders,
• construction and assembly fixtures,
• parts for production equipment,
• components for the automotive and transportation industries,
• prototypes and functional parts exposed to elevated temperatures,
• applications where limited flame propagation is required.

Recommendations for 3D printing

Reliable printing requires a 3D printer with an all-metal hotend capable of maintaining a temperature of at least 260 °C over the long term. An enclosed print chamber is recommended; for larger models, a heated chamber helps significantly reduce warping and layer cracking.

• Nozzle temperature: 250–270 °C
• Build plate temperature: 90–105 °C
• Recommended speed: 30–50 mm/s
• Part cooling: off
• Recommended chamber: enclosed, ideally heated
• Drying: 75 °C for 6 hours if the filament has absorbed moisture

It is advisable to apply a release adhesive intended for polycarbonate to the print surface. This improves adhesion during printing while reducing the risk of damaging the print surface when removing the finished model.

Annealing finished parts

To reduce internal stress and achieve optimal mechanical and thermal properties, the manufacturer recommends annealing finished parts. The recommended setting is 90 °C for 2 hours. Dimensional changes may occur during annealing, so it is advisable to verify the process on a test print first.

Important notice

The UL 94 classification applies to material tested under specified conditions. A 3D-printed product itself is not automatically a certified fire-safe part—the resulting properties are affected by geometry, wall thickness, layer orientation, and print settings.

Key features:

• Self-extinguishing PC filament with UL 94 V-0 classification
• High mechanical strength and toughness
• Temperature resistance suitable for functional technical parts
• Heat deflection temperature under load of up to 110 °C
• Polymaker Nano Reinforcement technology
• Suitable for electrical engineering, automotive, transportation, and industry
• Black finish for professional-looking prints
• 1 kg spool