ESD filament for 3D printing
ESD filament contains a conductive additive that lets static charge drain away through the printed part, instead of collecting on it and discharging into electronics. It is used for fixtures, PCB trays, test jigs and housings in electronics production.
We stock four grades of 3DXTech 3DXSTAT™, held to a dissipative 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq, and Filament-PM ESD PETG, a low-resistance PETG made in the Czech Republic. The figures on this page come from the manufacturers’ datasheets, linked with each product. Companies can get a PDF price offer straight from the checkout.
ESD filaments in stock
3DXSTAT™ ESD PLA
Dissipative · 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq
0.75 kg · 1.75 mm · 2.85 mm
from €112.95 (€151/kg) · In stock
Datasheet (PDF)Safety sheet (PDF)3DXSTAT™ ESD PETG
Dissipative · 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq
0.75 kg · 2 kg · 4 kg · 1.75 mm · 2.85 mm
from €112.95 (€137/kg) · In stock
Datasheet (PDF)Safety sheet (PDF)3DXSTAT™ ESD ABS
Dissipative · 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq
0.75 kg · 1.75 mm · 2.85 mm
from €112.95 (€151/kg) · In stock
Datasheet (PDF)Safety sheet (PDF)3DXSTAT™ ESD PC
Dissipative · 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq
0.75 kg · 1.75 mm
from €112.95 (€151/kg) · In stock
Datasheet (PDF)Safety sheet (PDF)Filament-PM ESD PETG
Conductive · < 10⁵ Ω
0.5 kg · 1.75 mm
from €37.16 (€74/kg) · In stock
Datasheet (PDF)Safety sheet (PDF)Brno lab report (PDF)
Which 3DXSTAT™ grade?
- ESD PLA
- Stiff, accurate and the easiest to print. For fixtures, trays and nests at room temperature.
- ESD PETG
- Tougher, takes knocks and constant handling. For housings and production parts. Also in 2 and 4 kg spools.
- ESD ABS
- Holds its shape up to about 97 °C. For parts near warm electronics. Print it in an enclosure.
- ESD PC
- The strongest grade, up to about 135 °C. For hot test fixtures and avionics or automotive housings. Print it in an enclosure.
Datasheet values side by side
Typical values measured by the manufacturers on printed test specimens. Your part will differ with geometry, temperature and print orientation, so measure it.
| 3DXSTAT™ ESD PLA | 3DXSTAT™ ESD PETG | 3DXSTAT™ ESD ABS | 3DXSTAT™ ESD PC | Filament-PM ESD PETG | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Class | Dissipative | Dissipative | Dissipative | Dissipative | Conductive |
| Surface resistance | 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq | 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq | 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq | 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq | < 10⁵ Ω |
| Test method | ASTM D257 | ASTM D257 | ASTM D257 | ASTM D257 | EN IEC 62631-3-2 |
| Volume resistivity | – | – | – | – | ≈ 27 Ω·cm (EN ISO 3915) |
| Additive | Carbon nanotubes | Carbon nanotubes | Carbon nanotubes | Carbon nanotubes | Carbon black |
| Glass transition (Tg) | 60 °C | 80 °C | 105 °C | 143 °C | – |
| Heat deflection, 0.45 MPa | 55 °C | 75 °C | 97 °C | 135 °C | 70 °C |
| Tensile strength | 55 MPa | 50 MPa | 58 MPa | 68 MPa | – |
| Elongation at break | 10 % | 13 % | 4 % | 6 % | – |
| Nozzle temperature | 210–225 °C | 245–250 °C | 230 °C | 285–295 °C | 270–290 °C |
| Bed temperature | 55 °C | 70–75 °C | 105–110 °C | 115–130 °C | 80–90 °C |
| Nozzle | 0.4 mm | 0.4 mm | 0.4 mm | 0.4 mm | 0.6 mm |
| Price per kg | €151 | €137 | €151 | €151 | €74 |
3DXTech or Filament-PM?
Both drain static and both are well made. They are built for different jobs, and the price difference reflects that.
3DXTech’s 3DXSTAT™ range uses multi-wall carbon nanotubes. They form a conductive network at a low loading, under 10 % carbon according to the safety datasheet, so the plastic keeps most of its toughness: ESD PETG still stretches 13 % before it breaks. Surface resistance stays in the dissipative range of 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq and can be tuned with nozzle temperature. It prints fine detail through a 0.4 mm nozzle, comes in four polymers, and 3DXTech specifies low particle shedding and outgassing. For parts that touch bare boards and components, this is the material we recommend.
Filament-PM ESD PETG is made in the Czech Republic with conductive carbon black. Its resistance is far lower, about 27 Ω·cm, measured independently by the Polymer Institute Brno, so charge leaves the part almost at once. The high carbon content has a cost: Filament-PM says prints are noticeably more brittle than standard PETG, recommends a 0.6 mm nozzle and simple shapes, and heat resistance is around 70 °C. At about half the price per kilo it is a good choice for grounding parts, covers and prototypes.
Choose 3DXSTAT™ for
- trays, nests, fixtures and jigs that touch PCBs or components
- work under an ESD control programme (IEC 61340-5-1, ANSI/ESD S20.20)
- fine detail, toughness or temperatures above 70 °C
Choose Filament-PM ESD PETG for
- grounding brackets and other parts that should conduct
- simple bins, guides and covers that don’t touch bare components
- prototypes where price per kilo matters most
How ESD filament works
A normal plastic part is an insulator. Rub it and the charge stays on the surface, where it attracts dust and can jump into the next component it touches. In 3DXTech’s demonstration below, a tray printed in standard PLA picks up foam beads after it is rubbed with a balloon; the same tray in ESD PLA does not.
Where the materials sit
3DXSTAT™: 10⁷–10⁹ Ω/sq
Filament-PM ESD PETG: < 10⁵ Ω
Standard PLA, PETG: > 10¹³ Ω
Lower resistance is not automatically safer. When a charged component touches a low-resistance, grounded surface it discharges in nanoseconds, and that discharge can damage it as surely as static does. A dissipative surface slows it down. That is why trays and fixtures that touch components are usually specified in the dissipative range, while conductive materials are used for the grounding path itself.
Compare like with like. 3DXTech states surface resistivity in Ω/sq (ASTM D257), which with the standard ring electrode is about ten times the resistance in Ω that a meter shows. Filament-PM states volume resistivity in Ω·cm (EN ISO 3915), a measure of the bulk material rather than its surface.
Printing and checking ESD parts
- Dry the filament first: PLA and PETG at 65 °C, ABS at 80 °C, PC at 120 °C, four hours each.
- Nozzle temperature moves the resistance. With 3DXSTAT™, hotter means lower resistance and cooler means higher. Start at the datasheet value and adjust in 5 °C steps.
- For ESD PLA, 3DXTech suggests an extrusion multiplier of 1.15–1.2 and 50–100 % part cooling.
- Charge travels mostly through the outer walls, and better along layers than across them. In the Brno lab tests on Filament-PM ESD PETG, infill from 0 to 100 % barely changed the result, while upright prints measured 47 Ω·cm against 27 Ω·cm for flat ones.
- Print ESD ABS and PC in an enclosure. PLA and PETG don’t need one.
- Keep contact faces bare, because paint, lacquer and glue insulate. Measure every new part with a surface resistance meter (IEC 61340-2-3 or ANSI/ESD STM11.11) at your shop’s humidity, and keep the reading with the part number.
Buying for a company
If your purchasing department needs a quote before it can order, the checkout makes one for you:
- Add the filaments to the cart.
- At checkout, tick “I’m buying on behalf of a company” and fill in the company name, company number and VAT ID.
- Choose “Price offer” as the payment method.
You get a PDF with the exact cart total straight away, and a copy by email. No order is placed. Once it is approved, order the usual way and pay by bank transfer or card.
3DXSTAT™ ESD PLA, PETG and ABS also come as 50 g samples for test prints, and ESD PETG in 2 and 4 kg spools. For larger quantities, regular deliveries or a 3DXSTAT™ grade we don’t list, such as ESD PEI 1010 or ESD TPU, email support@justcreate3d.com.
Questions
Is ESD filament the same as conductive filament?
Not quite. ESD filament covers both dissipative materials (10⁴ to 10¹¹ Ω), which drain charge in a controlled way, and conductive ones (below 10⁴ Ω), which drain it almost instantly. For parts that touch components, dissipative is the usual choice; conductive suits grounding paths.
Which ESD filament is best for PCB fixtures and trays?
3DXSTAT™ ESD PLA for room-temperature fixtures that need to be stiff and accurate, ESD PETG for parts that are handled a lot, and ESD ABS or PC when they get warm.
Is Filament-PM ESD PETG ESD-safe?
It drains static very well. With about 27 Ω·cm volume resistivity it is a conductive material, ideal for grounding parts. For parts that touch sensitive components directly, check it against your ESD control plan or use a dissipative grade such as 3DXSTAT™.
Does ESD filament lose its properties over time?
The conductive additive is compounded into the plastic, so unlike antistatic sprays or coatings it does not wear off or depend on humidity. Wear, paint or contamination on the surface can still change a reading, so re-measure parts in long-term use.
Can I get a proforma or quote before ordering?
Yes. Put the products in the cart, enter your company details at checkout and choose “Price offer” as the payment method. You get a PDF with the exact total at once and by email, and no order is placed.