Ultrafuse PAHT CF15: Carbon Fiber Nylon for Rigid, Heat-Resistant Parts (750 g, 1.75 or 2.85 mm)
Ultrafuse PAHT CF15 is a high-temperature polyamide filled with 15% carbon fiber, developed by BASF and Forward AM. Forward AM markets it as easy to process — and in practice, it delivers: no heated enclosure required, low moisture absorption, and minimal warping. What you absolutely cannot skip is a hardened steel or ruby nozzle of 0.6 mm or larger. Available in both 1.75 mm and 2.85 mm diameters, always in black.
Key Specs at a Glance
- High-temperature polyamide with 15% carbon fiber, black.
- Hardened steel or ruby nozzle required, minimum 0.6 mm.
- HDT of 145 °C at 0.45 MPa (dry), with heat resistance up to 150 °C per Forward AM's datasheet.
- ESD-safe: surface resistivity of 10^5 to 10^11 Ω.
- 750 g spool in 1.75 mm (PAHT-4500a075) or 2.85 mm (PAHT-4500b075).
Will It Work With My Printer?
Most likely yes — as long as you swap out the nozzle. Forward AM states it works with any FFF printer equipped with a hardened nozzle, with no heated chamber required. A brass nozzle will wear out fast from the carbon fiber, so upgrading is non-negotiable. Your hotend needs to reach 270–280 °C, and your bed should hit your target temperature without issue. Official profiles are available for Prusa, Raise3D, Bambu Lab, Ultimaker, and BCN3D. Choose the right diameter for your machine: 1.75 mm for most printers, 2.85 mm for Ultimaker and other machines that use that size.
What Is This Filament Best For?
Functional parts that need to be stiff, heat-resistant, and chemically durable. Forward AM highlights its use in complex geometries for demanding environments and automotive applications, noting its chemical resistance outperforms most standard polyamides. The flexural modulus in XY reaches 8,258 MPa — well above unfilled nylon. The trade-off is low flexibility: elongation at break is just 1.8% in XY. To understand what carbon fiber actually adds to a filament, check out our complete carbon fiber filament guide.
Technical Specifications
| Property |
Value |
| Nozzle Temperature |
250–270 °C (product page); 260–280 °C (TDS) |
| Bed Temperature |
65–85 °C (product page); 100–120 °C (TDS) |
| Enclosure |
Not required |
| Build Surface |
PEI or glass |
| Nozzle |
≥ 0.6 mm, ruby or hardened steel |
| Print Speed |
30–80 mm/s |
| Diameter Tolerance |
±0.050 mm (1.75) / ±0.075 mm (2.85) |
| HDT at 0.45 MPa (dry / conditioned) |
145 °C / 128 °C |
| Melting Temperature |
234 °C |
| Tensile Strength XY / ZX |
103.2 MPa / 18.2 MPa |
| Flexural Modulus XY / ZX |
8,258 MPa / 2,715 MPa |
| Shore D Hardness |
72 |
Printing Tips
- Dry for 4–16 hours at 80 °C in a filament dryer or vacuum oven. The manufacturer strongly recommends keeping it dry at all times.
- The product page and technical datasheet list different temperature ranges. Start with the official profile for your printer and fine-tune from there.
- For supports, you can use the same material, Ultrafuse BVOH (water-soluble), or HIPS.
- Layer adhesion is the weak point (18.2 MPa in ZX vs. 103.2 MPa in XY): orient your parts so that the main load runs along the layer lines.
FAQ
Do I need a hardened nozzle?
Yes. Forward AM requires a hardened steel or ruby nozzle of at least 0.6 mm.
Do I need an enclosed chamber?
The manufacturer does not specify a chamber temperature requirement. It works on standard FFF printers with a hardened nozzle.
What's the difference between the two variants?
Only the diameter: 1.75 mm or 2.85 mm. The material, color, and 750 g spool are identical.
How much heat can it handle?
HDT of 145 °C at 0.45 MPa dry and 128 °C conditioned. Forward AM rates it for continuous use up to 150 °C.
Is it prone to moisture absorption?
Less so than standard nylon, according to the manufacturer, but it still needs to be dried at 80 °C. Check out our filament dryers.
Is it ESD-safe?
Yes, it is ESD-safe with a surface resistivity of 10^5 to 10^11 Ω.
Is it flexible?
No. It is very rigid and has low elasticity: 1.8% elongation at break in XY.
What type of nylon is it?
Forward AM classifies it as a high-temperature polyamide (PAHT). Learn more about nylon filament in this guide.
