<p>Ethyl acetate (sold as a MEK substitute) is supposed to work for vapor smoothing PET.  It doesn't seem very toxic (it's used to decaffinate cofee and tea, and as a nail polish remover), but you might want to look more into it.  There's a post on Printed Solid's blog where he vapor smoothed colorFabb XT and MadeSolid PET+ along with a few other filaments and got some good results.</p>

<p><a href="http://printedsolid.com/blogs/news/37035395-vapor-smoothing-3d-printed-parts-pla-colorfabb-xt-t-glase-pet" rel="nofollow">http://printedsolid.com/blogs/news/37035395-vapor-smoothing-3d-printed-parts-pla-colorfabb-xt-t-glase-pet</a></p>

<p>The links in the blog don't work for me, but google was able to find slightly larger versions:</p>

<p><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0887/0138/files/blog_2014-03-20-18.38.04-1024x613.jpg?16147388421280943481" rel="nofollow">https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0887/0138/files/blog_2014-03-20-18.38.04-1024x613.jpg?16147388421280943481</a></p>

<p><a href="https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0887/0138/files/blog_2014-03-21-18.16.28-1024x612.jpg?9543779874607042697" rel="nofollow">https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0887/0138/files/blog_2014-03-21-18.16.28-1024x612.jpg?9543779874607042697</a></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-19T11:27:44.137Z
This seems like fairly reasonable solution for PET. Thanks for sharing!
Tormod Haugene
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-19T09:58:32.033Z
2016-01-19T09:58:32.033Z
walter
<p>I've found a <a href="http://www.plasticsintl.com/plastics_chemical_resistence_chart.html" rel="nofollow">chart</a> which covers several plastics and solvents and only two of them (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloromethane" rel="nofollow">Chloromethane</a> and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform" rel="nofollow">Chloroform</a>) are rated "D" which includes dissolving the material and both seem to be quite nasty and I doubt you will be able to purchase them without being placed on several lists.</p>

<p>Is it possible that something like <a href="http://www.smooth-on.com/Epoxy-Coatings-XTC/c1397_1429/index.html" rel="nofollow">XTC-3D</a> from Smooth-On would work for you?</p>

<p>Also some more information on dissolving PET <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_you_dissolve_polyethyelene_terephthalate_PET" rel="nofollow">here</a>, several sources also mention PET is affected by Hydrogen Peroxide but they do not mention to what degree the plastic is affected.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-18T19:38:45.753Z
Thanks for sharing some great resources! I will certainly not be experimenting with pure ozone or phosphorus any time soon, but some product like XTC-3D could potentially be of help. All in all, it seems like PET is a fairly stable plastic chemically. Thanks!
Tormod Haugene
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-01-18T18:13:17.340Z
2016-01-18T18:22:33.493Z
2016-01-18T18:22:33.493Z
tjb1
<p>Are there any techniques for getting a smooth finish for parts printed with co-polyester (PET) filaments? More specifically, I am looking for an alternative that does not roughen the look of the part - such as using sandpaper - but rather works like acetone baths for ABS.</p>

<p>In particular, I want to treat ColorFabb's XT filament made from the <a href="http://www.eastman.com/Markets/3D_Printing/Pages/Products.aspx" rel="nofollow">Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer</a> (<a href="http://ws.eastman.com/ProductCatalogApps/PageControllers/ProdDatasheet_PC.aspx?Product=71100831&amp;sCategoryName=Generic" rel="nofollow">datasheet</a>). This is also the polymer is also used in:</p>

<ul>
<li>ColorFabb <a href="http://colorfabb.com/co-polyesters" rel="nofollow">nGen and XT</a></li>
<li>Taulman3D n-vent</li>
<li>TripTech Athiri 1800</li>
<li>3DXTech 3DXNano</li>
</ul>

<filament><post-processing><pet>
How to smooth the surface of parts printed with Co-polyester (PET) filament
Tormod Haugene
# How to smooth the surface of parts printed with Co-polyester (PET) filament

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-01-18)

Are there any techniques for getting a smooth finish for parts printed with co-polyester (PET) filaments? More specifically, I am looking for an alternative that does not roughen the look of the part - such as using sandpaper - but rather works like acetone baths for ABS.

In particular, I want to treat ColorFabb's XT filament made from the [Eastman Amphora™ 3D polymer](http://www.eastman.com/Markets/3D_Printing/Pages/Products.aspx) ([datasheet](http://ws.eastman.com/ProductCatalogApps/PageControllers/ProdDatasheet_PC.aspx?Product=71100831&sCategoryName=Generic)). This is also the polymer is also used in:

* ColorFabb [nGen and XT](http://colorfabb.com/co-polyesters)
* Taulman3D n-vent
* TripTech Athiri 1800
* 3DXTech 3DXNano

**Tags:** filament, post-processing, pet

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2016-01-19. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

Ethyl acetate (sold as a MEK substitute) is supposed to work for vapor smoothing PET. It doesn't seem very toxic (it's used to decaffinate cofee and tea, and as a nail polish remover), but you might want to look more into it. There's a post on Printed Solid's blog where he vapor smoothed colorFabb XT and MadeSolid PET+ along with a few other filaments and got some good results.

<http://printedsolid.com/blogs/news/37035395-vapor-smoothing-3d-printed-parts-pla-colorfabb-xt-t-glase-pet>

The links in the blog don't work for me, but google was able to find slightly larger versions:

<https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0887/0138/files/blog_2014-03-20-18.38.04-1024x613.jpg?16147388421280943481>

<https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0887/0138/files/blog_2014-03-21-18.16.28-1024x612.jpg?9543779874607042697>

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: This seems like fairly reasonable solution for PET. Thanks for sharing!  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-01-18. Score: 2

I've found a [chart](http://www.plasticsintl.com/plastics_chemical_resistence_chart.html) which covers several plastics and solvents and only two of them ([Chloromethane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloromethane) and [Chloroform](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chloroform)) are rated "D" which includes dissolving the material and both seem to be quite nasty and I doubt you will be able to purchase them without being placed on several lists.

Is it possible that something like [XTC-3D](http://www.smooth-on.com/Epoxy-Coatings-XTC/c1397_1429/index.html) from Smooth-On would work for you?

Also some more information on dissolving PET [here](https://www.researchgate.net/post/How_do_you_dissolve_polyethyelene_terephthalate_PET), several sources also mention PET is affected by Hydrogen Peroxide but they do not mention to what degree the plastic is affected.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Thanks for sharing some great resources! I will certainly not be experimenting with pure ozone or phosphorus any time soon, but some product like XTC-3D could potentially be of help. All in all, it seems like PET is a fairly stable plastic chemically. Thanks!  

---

