The increasing popularity of 3D printing for personal and commercial projects has more people wondering what materials they need to get started or to make their ultimate design come to life. PLA filament is one of the most commonly used for projects both large and small. While there are other options, such as ABS, HIPS, metal or wood-filled, and some flexible filaments like PLA rises above the rest.

Before you buy your next spools of filament for 3D printing, understand what PLA material is and why you should choose it.

What Is PLA Material?

PLA is more formally called Poly-lactic acid. No matter where you are on your 3D printing journey, you have probably used it at some point. The benefits of using this type of filament for the creation of plastic parts or objects are considerable. First of all, PLA’s popularity makes it very easy to find at shops and online eCommerce sites. It can be used the create a wide variety of objects due to its strength and a small degree of flexibility. Also, buyers find it highly affordable even when they want to print out something quite large.

People sometimes worry about the chemical nature of the printing filaments they heat up and use to craft everything from plant pots to children’s toys to machine parts. Polylactic acid is a bioplastic. This means that, unlike most plastics that come from petroleum, PLA comes from renewable resources. Most often, the manufacturing plants use sugar can or corn starch waste products to create it. Other technical terms for the material include thermoplastic starch.

What Are PLA Filaments?

Filaments, in general, are the long, skinny strands of material that you purchase on spools for your 3D printing projects. These are fed through the mechanism of the printing unit itself and used to create whatever part or object you desire. Most people never see PLA in any other form than filaments and the final product that is made with them.

PLA filaments come in a wide variety of colors to give ultimate design opportunities to people who love 3D printing. You do not need to search very far to find the type of filament perfect for whatever project you want to complete. Colors range from simple black, white, blue, and red to more unique options like silver, ‘silk’ colors that have an ombre effect, and ones patterned to look like marble or other stone. They even make rainbow-colored and glow-in-the-dark PLA filaments.

Is PLA Filament Biodegradable?

Yes! One of the most common reasons people turn to PLA filament over other options for 3D printing is the fact that it is biodegradable and much more environmentally friendly. As mentioned above, PLA is made from renewable resources like starch, which means it is considered a bioplastic. Natural products like sugar cane and corn starch naturally break down in the environment over time unlike petroleum products and other types of plastic.

Anyone who has read articles or watched new stories about the state of the environment knows that plastics are causing big problems on the land and in the ocean today. They affect life as we know it and never break down and disappear. PLA filament offers a much smarter alternative that could revolutionize how the world deals with its one-use containers and other products. Bioplastics like PLA break down quite quickly.

For example, if you created a water bottle from PLA and it accidentally ended up in the ocean, it would biodegrade and disappear in less than one year. Also, what would be leftover at the end would simply be the base components of corn starch or sugar cane, not petroleum.

Is PLA or ABS Better?

Ultimately, the decision about what type of filament to use for 3D printing comes down to both personal preference and the particular item you are trying to make. ABS is another popular filament type fashioned from a different type of thermoplastic. Also, it is important to take a close look at your printer to determine what type of printing filament it accepts. Some do not work with PLA and ABS equally.

Like most plastic on the market today, ABS is made from petroleum or oil products. This means it is not biodegradable or healthier for the environment. However, it does have some benefits over PLA that both hobbyist and commercial printers may prefer.

ABS required a heated platform for the 3D printer. It also requires considerable ventilation, so the fumes of the melting material do not build up indoors. It smells a lot worse than PLA, which people often describe as having a scent like a maple syrup or sugar. However, it is very strong and sturdy, which makes it possible better for machine parts, elements of larger projects that support or hold together other parts, and usable items that may get a lot of wear.

PLA offers better smells, more eco-friendly applications, no need for considerable ventilation, and a higher degree of overall safety. This is especially helpful for at-home hobbyists and people who work in small shops. PLA filament printed objects are strong, but they do not hold up to storage or use in high-temperature locations as well. Because PLA itself melts at a lower temperature than ABS, your project may warp or degrade more over time if left in a sunny windowsill, your vehicle, or another hot location.

The Overall Benefits of PLA for 3D Printing

Now that you understand what PLA filament is, the benefits it brings to many 3D printed projects, and the fact that it will not negatively impact the environment in the same way as petroleum-based plastics, you might find it an easy choice going forward. It is true that PLA offers many benefits for people who enjoy creating three-dimensional objects out of plastic, but that does not mean it is perfect for every single application.

If you are a home hobbyist enjoying 3D printing with a relatively small printer, the most important thing to check is if your machine handles PLA before you start stocking up on all the exciting colors and patterns available. You do not need a heated deck for this bioplastic, but you still need the right nozzles and other settings.

Basic solid-color PLA filament presents an affordable option for creating any parts of projects you want to use on your own, as a part of a larger object, or even to sell in a shop or online. The biodegradability of the materials may even boost sales to the eco-conscious. The availability of a full spectrum of colors improves your design options. Filament types that include metal, stone, or wood powders give you even more options. You can polish, shine, and even paint PLA with ease.
As 3D printing popularity improves, the quest for the perfect filament type continues. Although not ideal for all applications PLA filament remains one of the most popular.
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