PVB

Intermediate

Polyvinyl Butyral

Specialty filament that can be chemically smoothed with isopropyl alcohol (IPA) vapor in 30-60 seconds, producing a perfectly smooth, glossy, translucent surface.

⚠ IMPORTANT: Dry Your Filament Before Every Print

All filaments — including PVB — absorb moisture from the air. Printing with wet filament causes stringing, bubbling, weak layer adhesion, and poor surface finish. This is the single most overlooked cause of bad prints.

Always dry your filament per the manufacturer's recommendations printed on the spool label before printing, especially if the spool has been open for more than a few days or stored in a humid environment. Read our complete filament drying guide →

About the Temperatures & Speeds Listed Below

The print temperatures and speeds shown on this page are general industry ranges — not a one-size-fits-all prescription. Every printer brand and model has different capabilities. A Bambu Lab X1C can print PLA at 500 mm/s; an Ender 3 with a Bowden extruder performs best at 40–80 mm/s.

Always follow your specific printer manufacturer's recommended settings and the temperature range printed on your filament spool label. Start at the lower end of the range and dial in from there.

Material Properties

Strength5/10

Flexibility2/10

Heat Resistance3/10

Printability8/10

Best For

Visual models
lamp shades
smooth props
transparent/translucent display items
any print requiring flawless surface finish

Avoid For

High-temperature environments

Pro Tips

01Highly hygroscopic; dry at 45°C for 4 hours; store with desiccant
02Parts are somewhat brittle until chemically smoothed; handle with care
03Start with 30-second IPA vapor exposures; over-exposure melts the part and destroys dimensional accuracy

Print Speed by Printer Tier

Print speeds vary dramatically by printer. The speeds listed in product specs (like "500 mm/s") are maximum capabilities — not recommended everyday speeds. Use this table as a general guide and always follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

High-End (Bambu X1C, P2S, H2D)

Print Speed: 150–300 mm/s

High-acceleration direct-drive systems. Follow manufacturer slicer presets.

Mid-Range (Bambu A1/A1 Mini, Prusa MK4, Creality K1)

Print Speed: 60–150 mm/s

Good performance at moderate speeds. Follow slicer presets for best results.

Entry-Level (Ender 3 series, Bowden extruders)

Print Speed: 30–60 mm/s

Start slow and tune up. Follow your printer manufacturer's recommended settings.

Quick Specs

Print Temp200–220°C

Bed Temp60–70°C

Cost / kg$35–$50

EnclosureNot Required

DryingRequired

DifficultyIntermediate

Drying Note: Even filaments marked "Not Required" benefit from drying if the spool has been open or stored in a humid area. When in doubt, dry it.

Buy PVB Filament

Recommended brands: Hatchbox, eSUN, Polymaker, Bambu

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