PLA filament

  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Silver 1.75mm 1KgAurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Silver 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Denim Blue 1.75mm 1KgAurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Denim Blue 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – White 1.75mm 1KgAurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – White 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Beige 1.75mm 1KgAurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Beige 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Beige 2.85mm 1KgAurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Beige 2.85mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Emerald 1.75mm 1KgAurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Emerald 1.75mm 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Translucent Red 1.75mmAurarum PLA 3D Printer Filament – Translucent Red 1.75mm Quick View
  • Aurarum 3D Printer Filament – Wood Fill 1KgAurarum 3D Printer Filament – Wood Fill 1Kg Quick View
  • Aurarum 3D Printer Filament – Wood Fill 2.85mm 1KgAurarum 3D Printer Filament – Wood Fill 2.85mm 1Kg Quick View

Polylactic acid, also known as PLA, is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly plastic that is commonly used in 3D printing. It is made from natural resources such as corn starch, sugarcane, or cassava, and can be fully biodegraded in the natural environment, unlike traditional plastics made from fossil fuels.

PLA is a thermoplastic polymer, which means that it can be melted and reshaped multiple times without losing its properties. This makes it an ideal material for 3D printing, as it can be easily extruded through a nozzle to create a wide range of objects. Additionally, PLA is one of the most commonly used filaments in 3D printing due to its low cost and ease of use.

One of the main advantages of using PLA in 3D printing is its biodegradability. Traditional plastics can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment, and often end up in landfills or the ocean. In contrast, PLA can be fully biodegraded in the natural environment by microorganisms, reducing the amount of plastic waste in the environment.

Another advantage of using PLA in 3D printing is that it is a relatively safe material to use. It does not emit toxic fumes when heated, making it a good choice for indoor printing. Additionally, it is non-toxic, which means that it is safe to use for food and medical applications.

PLA is also a versatile material that can be used to create a wide range of objects. It can be colored with pigments, and can be reinforced with fillers such as wood, metal, or carbon fibers to improve its strength and stiffness. Additionally, it can be used in combination with other materials, such as ABS or TPU, to create more complex objects with different properties.

However, PLA does have some limitations as a 3D printing material. One of the main limitations is that it has a relatively low melting point compared to other plastics such as ABS. This means that it can warp or deform when exposed to high temperatures, making it less suitable for applications that require high temperature resistance.

Additionally, PLA is a brittle material that can be easily damaged when exposed to impacts or bending. This makes it less suitable for applications that require high mechanical strength.

Despite these limitations, PLA is still a popular choice for 3D printing due to its biodegradability and ease of use. Its use in 3D printing also opens up new possibilities for creating sustainable products and reducing plastic waste in the environment.

In conclusion, Polylactic acid (PLA) is an environmentally friendly, biodegradable thermoplastic polymer commonly used in 3D printing. It is made from natural resources such as corn starch, sugarcane or cassava, and can be fully biodegraded in the natural environment. It is a versatile and safe material to use, with low cost and ease of use. However, it has a relatively low melting point and brittle characteristics, which may limit its use in certain applications. Its use in 3D printing allows for new possibilities in creating sustainable products and reducing plastic waste in the environment.

Essential characteristics of PLA filament

The filament is typically characterized by temperatures, density, durability, flexibility, amount of fumes emitted during printing, and some other specifications.

PLA filament temperature is expressed through several different numbers: printing temp. and bed temp. PLA requires comparatively low heating, so the nozzle heat needs to be around 180-230°C. Although it makes PLA convenient to work with, it also makes it unsuitable for applications where the printed item may experience heat impact of around 60°C because of melting risk. Other plastics are more heat-resistant, so decide what matters more to you.

Another essential advantage of PLA is that it does not warp during printing, so you do not need to heat the bed. If you implement this additional condition, the temp. need not be higher than 30 to 60°C. Yet, as mentioned, heating the bed is optional.

Fumes emission in PLA is also close to none, so you do not need an enclosure. Definitely, many sites will tell you that you need to encapsulate the printer while working with any kind of plastic, but in comparison to ABS or even PETG, PLA smells of nothing. Just keep the workroom well ventilated, and it’s enough.

PLA filament density is around 1.25 g/cm3, which is rather average across the 3D printer plastics family. The reason is that they all need to be pushed through a tiny aperture in the nozzle and be light in weight. Any manipulation with the density will hinder the printing process, which is unacceptable.

When compared to other materials commonly used in 3D printing, such as ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) and PETG (Polyethylene Terephthalate Glycol), PLA has several advantages and disadvantages.

One of the main advantages of PLA is its biodegradability. Unlike ABS and PETG, which are made from fossil fuels and can take hundreds of years to break down in the environment, PLA can be fully biodegraded by microorganisms in the natural environment. This makes it a more sustainable option for 3D printing.

Another advantage of PLA is that it is a relatively safe material to use. It does not emit toxic fumes when heated, making it a good choice for indoor printing. Additionally, it is non-toxic, which means that it is safe to use for food and medical applications.

However, PLA does have some limitations when compared to ABS and PETG. One of the main limitations is that it has a relatively low melting point compared to ABS and PETG, which means that it can warp or deform when exposed to high temperatures. This makes it less suitable for applications that require high temperature resistance.

Additionally, PLA is a brittle material that can be easily damaged when exposed to impacts or bending. This makes it less suitable for applications that require high mechanical strength.