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Key Features
- 98A Shore hardness
- Semi-flexible TPU material
- Firmer than conventional 95A TPU
- Tough and durable
- Excellent impact resistance
- Good abrasion and wear resistance
- Flexible without being excessively soft
- Excellent layer adhesion
- Suitable for functional parts
- Good vibration and shock absorption
- Easier filament feeding than softer TPU grades
- Suitable for direct-drive extruders
- Compatible with most suitable 1.75mm FDM/FFF printers
- 1.75mm filament diameter
- 1kg net filament weight
- Proudly manufactured in South Africa
What Does 98A TPU Mean?
The 98A rating refers to the material’s Shore A hardness.
A higher Shore A number indicates a firmer flexible material.
Compared with a softer 95A TPU, 98A TPU provides:
- Greater stiffness
- Less deformation under load
- Easier filament feeding
- Better dimensional stability
- More controlled flexibility
- Improved suitability for structural flexible components
It still bends and flexes, but doesn’t feel as soft or rubber-like as lower-hardness TPU.
Easier to Print Than Softer TPU
One of the major advantages of 98A TPU is its increased stiffness.
Very soft flexible filament can compress or buckle inside the filament path, particularly when pushed quickly through Bowden tubes or complicated feeding systems.
The firmer 98A formulation helps reduce this behaviour and generally makes filament handling and extrusion more predictable.
A direct-drive extruder is still recommended for the most reliable results.
Tough & Impact Resistant
TPU is particularly useful when a printed component needs to survive repeated knocks, drops or impacts.
Instead of behaving like a brittle rigid plastic, TPU can deform under impact and then recover its shape.
This makes 98A TPU an excellent choice for:
- Protective components
- Equipment covers
- Guards
- Bumpers
- Feet
- Impact-absorbing components
- Tool protection
- Functional prototypes
Excellent for Vibration Dampening
The flexible nature of TPU allows it to absorb some vibration rather than transferring it directly through a component.
This makes it useful for:
- Anti-vibration feet
- Machine feet
- Equipment mounts
- Motor isolation components
- Protective pads
- Electronics housings
- Workshop equipment
Excellent Wear & Abrasion Resistance
TPU is also valued for its resistance to wear and abrasion.
This makes it suitable for components that experience repeated movement, rubbing or regular handling.
Potential applications include:
- Rollers
- Protective pads
- Flexible hinges
- Grips
- Feet
- Covers
- Wear-resistant components
- Workshop parts
Ideal for Grips & Handles
The combination of flexibility and durability makes 98A TPU particularly useful for producing parts that need a slightly softer, more comfortable or grippy surface.
Examples include:
- Tool grips
- Handles
- Knobs
- Protective sleeves
- Equipment grips
- Custom ergonomic components
Flexible Functional Parts
98A TPU provides enough flexibility to produce parts that can bend or compress while remaining substantially firmer than very soft TPU.
This makes it particularly useful for:
- Flexible brackets
- Clips
- Protective covers
- Seals
- Grommets
- Bushings
- Feet
- Spacers
- Bumpers
- Flexible connectors
- Functional prototypes
Moisture Management
Like other TPU materials, TPU can absorb moisture from the surrounding air.
Wet filament can result in:
- Popping or crackling during extrusion
- Increased stringing
- Rough surfaces
- Inconsistent extrusion
- Reduced print quality
For best results, keep the filament sealed when not in use and dry it when necessary before printing.
Printing TPU Successfully
Flexible filament generally benefits from a controlled filament path.
For reliable printing:
- A direct-drive extruder is recommended
- Keep the filament path as short and controlled as possible
- Avoid excessive printing speeds
- Reduce retraction compared with rigid filament
- Keep the spool feeding smoothly
- Store the filament dry
- Start conservatively and increase speed once extrusion is stable
The firmer 98A hardness makes this material easier to manage than softer TPU grades, but printer-specific tuning may still be required.
Ideal For
SA Filament 98A TPU is an excellent choice for:
- Protective covers
- Flexible brackets
- Bumpers
- Equipment feet
- Anti-vibration components
- Grips and handles
- Bushings
- Grommets
- Seals
- Flexible connectors
- Wear-resistant parts
- Functional prototypes
- Workshop components
- Protective components
- Custom engineering parts
- Frequently handled products
Technical Specifications
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | SA Filament |
| Material | TPU (Thermoplastic Polyurethane) |
| Shore Hardness | 98A |
| Colour | Black |
| Filament Diameter | 1.75mm |
| Net Weight | 1kg |
| Printer Technology | FDM / FFF |
| Material Type | Semi-Flexible |
| Impact Resistant | Yes |
| Abrasion Resistant | Yes |
| Direct-Drive Extruder Recommended | Yes |
| Primary Benefits | Flexibility, Toughness, Impact & Wear Resistance |
| Country of Manufacture | South Africa |
Compatible Printers
SA Filament 98A TPU can be used with compatible 1.75mm FDM/FFF 3D printers, particularly printers equipped with a direct-drive extruder.
Suitable machines include many:
- Creality K1 Series printers
- Creality K2 Series printers
- Creality Ender Series printers
- Creality SPARKX Series printers
- Bambu Lab printers
- Other compatible direct-drive FDM/FFF printers
Important Multi-Material System Note
Flexible filament requires additional care when used with automatic filament systems.
Even though 98A is firmer than 95A TPU, I would not advertise this filament as CFS/CFS Lite compatible unless SA Filament or Creality specifically confirms this exact material.
For maximum reliability, direct feeding from the spool to the printer’s extruder is the safer recommendation.
98A TPU vs 95A TPU
| Feature | 98A TPU | 95A TPU |
|---|---|---|
| Flexibility | Flexible | More Flexible |
| Firmness | Higher | Lower |
| Filament Feeding | Easier | More Difficult |
| Shape Retention | Better | Softer |
| Rubber-Like Feel | Moderate | Greater |
| Functional Components | Excellent | Excellent |
| Direct Drive Recommended | Yes | Yes |
If a customer wants a firmer flexible material that’s easier to print, 98A is generally the better choice.
If maximum flexibility is the priority, 95A is the better option.
Why Choose SA Filament 98A TPU?
SA Filament 98A TPU offers an excellent middle ground between rigid filament and softer flexible TPU.
Its 98A hardness provides enough flexibility for shock absorption, grips, protective components and flexible functional parts while retaining enough stiffness to improve dimensional stability and make filament feeding easier.
For customers who have found softer TPU difficult to print, 98A can be an excellent introduction to flexible filament.
It’s also manufactured locally in South Africa, making it a strong addition to the 3D Fusion flexible-filament range.
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