25 September 2025, Prague/Brno
A polycarbonate filament developed by Prusa Research in collaboration with the space company
TRL Space is entering the market. The new Prusament PC Space Grade Black material is unique in its suitability for demanding environments such as satellite missions, particle physics laboratories, and terrestrial applications where dimensional accuracy, durability, and electrostatic safety are critical. In addition, it is affordable and easy to print on standard desktop 3D printers. As a result, it enables faster, more accessible, and safer development of components for satellites, research equipment, and demanding industrial applications.
A new filament that accelerates development and reduces manufacturing costs
“We are convinced this is a breakthrough material that can make the development of space technologies accessible to a much broader range of developers, researchers, and companies. What was previously the domain of specialized laboratories with expensive equipment can now be printed easily and affordably on a standard 3D printer. This unique combination of top-tier performance and accessibility represents a real step forward,” says Josef Průša, Founder and CEO of Prusa Research. Due to the material’s unique properties, the company has filed a patent application, which is currently pending approval.
The ability to print the filament on common desktop printers without the need for specialized equipment significantly simplifies and accelerates the development of new components. Manufacturers and researchers can design and print required parts directly in their own laboratories or companies within hours, without relying on external suppliers, waiting for delivery, or paying high costs for custom manufacturing. This shortens the entire innovation cycle from the initial idea to a functional prototype or final part.
“Additive manufacturing has enormous potential in the space industry. It enables faster development, prototyping, and production of structural components at a fraction of the cost of conventional solutions. What has long been missing, however, was a reliable, accessible, and easy-to-print material with properties suitable for space use. Through our collaboration with Prusa Research, we have solved this problem,” says Petr Kapoun, CEO of TRL Space. The company plans to use the material in its own projects, increasing flexibility and efficiency in the development and testing of space systems.
The filament is designed to meet demanding requirements for use in vacuum environments, with temperature fluctuations and strict electrostatic safety requirements. One of the biggest challenges when using plastic materials in space is outgassing – the release of microscopic residues that evaporate from the material in a vacuum. These vapors can contaminate optical instruments, damage sensitive electronics, or interfere with measurements. Prusament PC Space Grade Black delivers outstanding results in this area. According to laboratory tests conducted so far, it shows minimal mass loss (TML well below the European Space Agency limits) and achieved a zero value in the CVCM test, which measures the amount of condensable outgassing products. This is a level of performance rarely achieved by commonly available, affordable plastics. The material is also electrostatically dissipative (ESD safe), meaning it can safely dissipate electrostatic charge, which is essential when used near electronic components.
Despite being printable on standard desktop 3D printers—devices commonly used today in schools, workshops, and startups—the filament maintains high accuracy and reliability even when printing larger objects, such as parts measuring up to 20 × 20 centimeters. With lower-quality materials, objects of this size are often prone to deformation. This makes the filament suitable for applications such as electronic enclosures, cable holders, and other small technical components.
The development team is also working to ensure the material meets the strictest standards required for manufacturing structural components of small satellites, such as CubeSats. Additional tests are planned, including radiation resistance measurements to be conducted at CERN laboratories, as well as thermal cycling tests simulating space conditions, which will be carried out by the European Space Agency (ESA). These extreme temperature fluctuations and radiation levels are typical stresses that satellite components and other space hardware must withstand.
