PLA filament: strength, temperature and advantages

What is PLA?

PLA (polylactic acid) is the most frequently used filament in 3D printers using FFF technology. It is gaining popularity due to its ease of use and a wide range of applications, especially those that do not require any mechanical or thermal requirements. This material is perfect for beginners.

PLA filament is a biodegradable filament and consists of renewable raw materials. This means it is sustainable, made from organic sources and thermoplastic. PLA filament for a 3D printer requires proper care and maintenance because it can be a bit delicate. PLA absorbs water easily, which means it can become brittle over time if stored in a humid environment. It can also melt easily if too much heat is applied to it.

Properties of the PLA filament

• The tensile strength is 37 MPa
• Stretching about 6%
• The modulus of elasticity is 4 GPa
• The density is 1.3 g/cm3
• The melting point is 173 °C and the glass transition temperature is 60 °C

Typical applications of PLA filament

PLA filament is commonly used to create intricate parts and details, including corners, sharp parts and very small pieces. Therefore, it is often used to create architectural mock-ups, aesthetic and conceptual models and casting molds. Depending on your print quality settings, layers may still be visible after each print.

Overall, this material is very popular for prototyping. Since it is at a lower price than most other filaments, manufacturers and developers can test different prototypes without large investments. It is also biodegradable, which means you can reduce your impact on the environment.

Advantages of PLA filament

The main advantages of PLA filament are that it can be used in desktop 3D printers, is easy to print at low temperatures, and works with almost all types of adhesives, including cyanoacrylates and special adhesives for plastics. Remember not to use hot glues with PLA so as not to melt the filament. PLA is also quite easy to paint, but you have to use a primer because it is plastic. This is the most commonly used printing material when someone wants to paint the model later.

Pros and cons of PLA filament for a 3D printer

Pros:

• Perfect for beginners
• Low price
• Works well for complex prints
• Perfect for prototyping

Minuses:

• May be heat sensitive
• Fragile
• Inelastic compared to other fibers

Overall, PLA filament is one of the best filaments to work with: it is not sensitive to temperature changes, has excellent surface quality and is ideal for printing complex features.