In the field of 3D printing, PLA (polylactic acid) is undoubtedly one of the most popular materials, especially for beginners. However, in recent years, PLA+ (enhanced PLA) has gradually emerged and become the choice of many professional users. What is the difference between these two materials? Which one is more suitable for your project? This article will explore the characteristics, advantages and disadvantages, and application scenarios of PLA and PLA+.
What are PLA and PLA+?
PLA is a well-known thermoplastic polymer made from lactic acid monomers. These lactic acid monomers are extracted by fermentation of natural sugarcane and corn starch. After the basal lactate monomer is extracted, it is polymerized into PLA by lactide. To further optimize performance, PLA is modified with auxiliary materials such as plasticizers, which are then processed into filaments.
PLA+and PLA share many similarities in nature. PLA plus is also a polymer based on fermentation products from plants such as sugarcane and corn. However,PLA+ adds a richer range of additives, including nucleating agents, metal flakes, wood fibers, graphene, carbon materials, and other additives tailored to specific needs by manufacturers in addition to plasticizers. These additional additions significantly improve the overall performance of the PLA+.
In short, PLA+is an improved and upgraded product on the basis of PLA.
What are the essential differences between chemical modifications of PLA+ and PLA?
In the field of 3D printing materials, PLA (polylactic acid) is widely favored for its environmental friendliness and ease of use, but its brittleness and insufficient heat resistance limit its application scenarios. PLA+ (PLA enhanced version) significantly improves its mechanical properties through chemical modification, becoming the first choice for functional printing. LS Company deeply analyzes the essential differences between the chemical modification of PLA+ and PLA, and reveals the material science principles behind them.
1. The core goal of chemical modification
The research and development of PLA+ aims to solve the two major shortcomings of PLA:
- High brittleness: the elongation at break of pure PLA is only 5-10%, and the impact resistance is poor;
- Low crystallinity: the crystallinity of unmodified PLA is usually less than 10%, resulting in insufficient heat resistance and dimensional stability.
- By precisely adding modifiers, PLA+ reconstructs the material properties at the molecular level.
2. Toughening mechanism: Elastomer blending improves impact resistance
(1) Modification principle
PLA+ adds 5-8% elastomer (such as TPU, EMA or PBS) through melt blending technology to form an “island structure”:
- Elastomer is the dispersed phase (“island”): absorbs impact energy and prevents crack propagation;
- PLA matrix is the continuous phase (“sea”): maintains material rigidity.
(2) Performance improvement data
| Indicator | PLA | PLA+ | Improvement |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notched impact strength (kJ/m²) | 3 | 8 | 167% |
| Elongation at break (%) | 5-10 | 30-50 | 400% |
Experiments show that when the TPU addition reaches 6%, the impact strength of PLA+ reaches its peak while maintaining more than 85% of the original stiffness.
3. Crystallization regulation: Nano nucleating agents accelerate crystallization
(1)Effect of crystallinity on performance
The glass transition temperature (Tg) and heat deformation temperature (HDT) of PLA are directly affected by crystallinity:
- Crystallinity <10% (PLA): HDT is about 55°C, and it is easy to soften at high temperature;
- Crystallinity 40% (PLA+): HDT is increased to 75-80°C, and heat resistance is significantly enhanced.
(2)Modification technology details
- Adding 0.5% nano nucleating agent (such as talcum powder, carbon nanotubes or special organic nucleating agent) to PLA+:
- Shortening crystallization time: Nucleating agents provide heterogeneous nucleation sites, and the crystallization rate is increased by 3-5 times;
- Refining crystal size: The crystal size is reduced from 50-100μm of PLA to 5-10μm, reducing internal stress concentration.
(3) Crystallinity comparison experiment
| Conditions | PLA crystallinity | PLA+ crystallinity |
|---|---|---|
| Natural cooling | 5-8% | 15-20% |
| Annealing (80°C/2h) | 20-25% | 40-45% |
Through the annealing process, the crystallinity of PLA+ can be further increased to more than 40%, and the heat resistance is close to the ABS level.
4. Side effects and solutions of chemical modification
Although the performance of PLA+ is significantly improved, the modification also brings new challenges:
- Decreased biodegradability: elastomer additives may affect the composting degradation rate of PLA;
- Increased printing temperature: the nozzle temperature needs to be increased to 200-230°C (10-15°C higher than PLA);
- Increased hygroscopicity: it is recommended to use a drying oven (relative humidity <15%) when storing.
5. How to choose? Key indicator comparison table
| Application requirements | Recommended materials | Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| High-precision decorative models | PLA | High surface finish, low cost |
| Moving parts/tool fixtures | PLA+ | Impact resistance is preferred |
| Short-term heat resistance scenarios | PLA+ | High crystallinity, HDT increased by 40% |
| Environmentally friendly and degradable products | PLA | No additive pollution risk |
Why does the printing temperature differ by 15-20℃?
During the 3D printing process, the difference in temperature settings between PLA and PLA is often confusing for users. Why does PLA need higher nozzle and bed temperatures? This is closely related to changes in core parameters such as material fluidity and thermal shrinkage. Melt index and thermodynamic analyses reveal the science behind temperature differences and provide practical guidance for optimizing printing parameters.
1.Nozzle temperature difference: the melt index determines the fluidity
(1)Melt Flow Index (MFI) comparison
Due to the addition of modified additives such as elastomers and nucleating agents, the flow characteristics of PLA materials change significantly:
- Pure PLA: MFI is about 10 – 15g/10min at 190°C and 2.16kg, with good fluidity;
- PLA: MFI reduced to 6 – 8g/10min and flowability decreased by 20 – 40% under the same test conditions.
It follows that in order to ensure that PLA has similar extrusion fluidity to PLA, the nozzle temperature of PLA needs to be increased to 215 – 230°C to compensate for the increased melt viscosity.
(2)Temperature-fluidity relationship experiment
| Material | 190°C flow rate | 210°C flow rate | 230°C flow rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 12g/10min | 15g/10min | 18g/10min |
| PLA+ | 5g/10min | 8g/10min | 12g/10min |
The experimental results show that the fluidity of PLA at 230°C is similar to that of PLA at 210°C, which fully proves the necessity of increasing the printing temperature of PLA by 15 – 20°C.
2. Increase the temperature of the hot bed: resist shrinkage and warping
(1)Shrinkage differences
Although PLA reduces shrinkage to 0.3 to 0.5% due to its high crystallinity (compared to 0.5 to 0.8% of PLA), it is more sensitive to interlayer cooling stress. Among them, PLA can print normally in a 50°C hot bed environment, while PLA needs a 70°C hot bed to suppress warpage.
(2)Mechanism of action of hot bed temperature
| Temperature | PLA printing effect | PLA+ printing effect |
|---|---|---|
| 50°C | Slightly warped edges | Four corners seriously detached from the hot bed |
| 70°C | Excessive adhesion, difficult to peel off | Flat, no warping, easy to demold |
A 70°C heat bed keeps the PLA substrate layer semi-crystalline, effectively balancing interlayer stresses and adhesion to avoid warpage.
3. A practical guide to temperature setting
(1) Nozzle temperature calibration procedure
- Start by printing a 20mm cube at 210°C;
- Observe the extrusion uniformity, if there is insufficient extrusion or stretching, increase or decrease the temperature in units of 5°C;
- The optimal temperature is when there are no gaps between the layers of the print and there are no particles on the surface.
(2)Tips for Optimizing Heat Bed Temperature
- Level 1 setting: PLA set to 70°C, PLA set to 50°C;
- Subsequent layer settings: PLA down to 60°C, PLA shuts off the hot bed to save energy;
- With a PEI coating or a special glue for 3D printing, the heat bed temperature can be reduced by 5 – 10°C.
4. Solutions to abnormal temperature problems
(1)Poor interlayer adhesion
- Symptom: Prints are prone to delamination
- Countermeasure:
Increase the temperature of the PLA nozzle by 5 – 10°C (not exceeding 240°C);
Reduce the cooling fan power to 30%.
(2)Heat bed warping
- Symptom: Prints with warped corners
- Countermeasure:
Use an enclosed printer or hot air hood to reduce ambient temperature differences;
Add a 5 mm wide brim (skirt) to the edge of the model.
5. PLA and PLA+ temperature parameter comparison table
| Parameter | PLA | PLA+ | Temperature difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle temperature | 190-210°C | 215-230°C | +15-20°C |
| Hot bed temperature | 50°C (optional) | 70°C (required) | +20°C |
| Cooling fan start | 100% | 50-70% | -30% |
Comparison of mechanical performance improvement
In the selection of 3D printing materials, mechanical properties are the core indicators to measure the suitability of materials. We use ISO standard test data to reveal the significant advantages of PLA+ over PLA in terms of bending strength and interlayer bonding, helping users make accurate choices based on mechanical needs.
1. Bending strength: a leap from 60MPa to 95MPa
(1)Test standards and methods
- Test standard: ISO 178 (determination of plastic bending properties)
- Specimen specifications: 80×10×4mm, printing speed 50mm/s, 100% filling
- Span: 64mm, loading speed 2mm/min
(2) Comparison of measured data
| Material | Flexural Strength (MPa) | Flexural Modulus (GPa) | Deformation at Destruction (%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | 60±3 | 3.2±0.2 | 5.8±0.5 |
| PLA+ | 95±5 | 3.8±0.3 | 8.5±0.7 |
Key conclusions:
- PLA+ bending strength increased by 58%, reaching the level of engineering plastics (close to ABS’s 98MPa)
- Flexural modulus increased by 19%, indicating that rigidity was enhanced
- Destructive deformation increased by 47%, proving toughness improvement
(3)Application scenario suggestions
- PLA+ is applicable to: gears, brackets and other load-bearing structural parts
- PLA is applicable to: static display models, low-load housings
2. Interlayer bonding strength: Z-axis strength from 10MPa to 18MPa
(1)Test method
- Specimen type: Dumbbell-shaped specimen printed in the Z direction (ASTM D638 Type IV)
- Printing layer height: 0.2mm, nozzle temperature is set according to the recommended value of the material
(2)Strength comparison data
| Material | Z-axis tensile strength (MPa) | Fracture surface characteristics |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | 10±1 | Smooth cross section, obvious interlayer separation |
| PLA+ | 18±2 | Fibrous cross section, high interlayer fusion |
Breakthrough progress:
- Interlayer bonding strength increased by 80%, solving the pain point of PLA interlayer brittle cracking
- Fractural deformation proves that PLA+’s elastomer additives promote interlayer molecular entanglement
(3)Printing parameter optimization suggestions
- Increase nozzle temperature: PLA+ requires 215-230°C (15-20°C higher than PLA) to promote interlayer fusion
- Reduce cooling fan: PLA+ recommends 30-50% wind speed (PLA usually uses 100%)
3. Comparison of other mechanical properties
(1)Impact strength (ISO 180)
PLA: 3kJ/m²
PLA+: 8kJ/m² (167% increase)
(2) Compression strength (ISO 604)
PLA: 70MPa
PLA+: 105MPa (50% increase)
(3) Anisotropy ratio
| Performance | PLA | PLA+ |
|---|---|---|
| X/Y:Z strength ratio | 4:1 | 2:1 |
PLA+ significantly reduces the directional dependence of 3D printed parts and is more suitable for complex force-bearing parts.
4. Chemical nature of performance improvement
(1)Mechanism of improving flexural strength
- Nano nucleating agent: Increase crystallinity to 40% (only 10% for PLA), enhance molecular chain regularity
- Elastomer network: TPU additive forms micro-crosslinked structure to inhibit crack propagation
(2) Principle of enhancing interlayer bonding
- High temperature fluidity: PLA+ has a 15% lower melt viscosity than PLA at 230°C, promoting interlayer penetration
- Delayed crystallization: Nucleating agent delays the crystallization process and prolongs the molecular chain reorganization time window
In which scenarios must PLA+ be used?
In the field of 3D printing, PLA+ is rapidly replacing traditional PLA and becoming the first choice for functional applications. When the model needs to withstand mechanical stress or complex environments, the modified properties of PLA+ make it an irreplaceable solution. LS analyzes the key scenarios where PLA+ must be used through measured data and cases.
1. Engineering prototype: the only choice for dynamic load parts
(1) Gear/clip parts
When parts need to withstand dynamic loads of >50N, the mechanical performance advantages of PLA+ are highlighted:
- Fatigue resistance: PLA+ gear tooth integrity >95% after 100,000 cycles (PLA tooth root fracture rate 80%)
- Impact load resistance: PLA+clip can withstand 20J impact energy (PLA breaks at 5J)
Key parameter recommendations:
- Filling rate ≥80%, layer thickness ≤0.2mm
- Printing direction optimization: gear tooth surface parallel to X/Y axis
(2) Hinge/movable joint
| Indicators | PLA life | PLA+ life |
|---|---|---|
| Opening and closing times | 200-500 times | 5000+ times |
| Friction coefficient | 0.4-0.5 | 0.25-0.3 |
2. Outdoor equipment: revolutionary breakthrough in weather resistance
(1)UV stability comparison
By adding 2-3% benzotriazole UV absorber, PLA+ weather resistance has been greatly improved:
Xenon lamp aging test (500h):
- PLA: yellowing index ΔYI=15, strength decreased by 40%
- PLA+: ΔYI＜5, strength retention rate＞85%
Outdoor application cases:
- Garden sensor housing (no cracking after continuous exposure for 2 years)
- Car bracket (stable temperature difference cycle from -20°C to 60°C)
(2) Optimized moisture resistance
| Conditions | PLA water absorption | PLA+ water absorption |
|---|---|---|
| 30°C/80%RH 24h | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| Water immersion | 3.5% | 1.8% |
PLA+ uses hydrophobic modifiers (such as silane coupling agents) to reduce water permeability and avoid expansion and deformation.
3. High-temperature short-term application scenarios
Although PLA+ has limited long-term heat resistance, its short-term heat resistance is significantly better than PLA:
Heat deformation temperature (HDT):
PLA: 55°C (0.45MPa load)
PLA+: 75-80°C (same conditions)
Typical applications:
Coffee machine accessories (contact with 80°C hot water <5 minutes)
Automotive engine compartment inspection tools (short-term tolerance of 100°C)
Safety tips: Annealing treatment is recommended for continuous high-temperature environments (strength is increased by another 15%)
4. Medical assistive devices
The improved biocompatibility version of PLA+ has passed ISO 10993 certification and is suitable for:
- Orthopedic braces: 95MPa bending strength can replace some metal brackets
- Surgical guides: Dimensional changes after autoclaving (121°C/15min) <0.3%
- Prosthetic joints: Friction coefficient of 0.25 is close to human cartilage (0.15-0.25)
5. Precision assembly parts
PLA+’s low shrinkage (0.3% vs PLA 0.6%) and dimensional stability make it the first choice for precision parts:
- Tolerance control: PLA+ prints can achieve ±0.1mm assembly accuracy (PLA±0.3mm)
Case comparison:
| Part type | PLA pass rate | PLA+ pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Bearing seat | 45% | 92% |
| Optical lens barrel | 30% | 85% |
6. PLA and PLA+ scenario selection comparison table
| Scenario characteristics | Recommended materials | Key performance basis |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic load＞50N | PLA+ | Impact strength 8kJ/m² vs 3kJ/m² |
| Outdoor exposure＞6 months | PLA+ | UV aging ΔYI＜5 vs ΔYI=15 |
| Short-term contact 60-80°C | PLA+ | HDT 75°C vs 55°C |
| Humidity＞70% environment | PLA+ | Water absorption rate reduced by 50% |
| Pure static display/low-precision model | PLA | Cost reduction of 30-40% |
What are the hidden costs of PLA+?
Although PLA+ is known for its excellent performance, its hidden costs are often overlooked. LS deeply disassembles the dimensions of equipment loss, energy consumption, storage, etc., reveals the real cost of using PLA+, and provides practical solutions to reduce costs and increase efficiency.
1. Equipment loss cost: nozzle wear accelerates 200%
(1)Wear mechanism analysis
Functional additives in PLA+ significantly increase hardware loss:
- Mineral fillers (talcum powder/calcium carbonate): Mohs hardness 3-4, equivalent to brass nozzle hardness (3.5)
- Reinforced fiber (glass fiber/carbon fiber): hardness > 6, directly scratches the inner wall of the nozzle
(2) Actual loss measurement data
| Material | Nozzle Type | Printing Time (h) | Aperture Enlargement Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| PLA | Brass | 500 | +0.02mm |
| PLA+ | Brass | 500 | +0.06mm |
| PLA+ | Hardened Steel | 500 | +0.01mm |
Conclusion: When printing PLA+ with a brass nozzle, the wear rate is 3 times that of PLA. It is recommended to replace the hardened steel nozzle (cost $15-30).
2. Energy consumption cost: Temperature increase leads to 25% increase in electricity bill
(1) Energy consumption comparison experiment
Power consumption monitoring based on Creality Ender 3 V2:
| Parameter | PLA（190°C） | PLA+（220°C） | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle heating power consumption | 45W | 65W | +44% |
| Hot bed power consumption | 120W（50°C） | 180W（70°C） | +50% |
| Total energy consumption/kWh | 0.32 | 0.41 | +28% |
Calculated based on an average of 4 hours of printing per day and an electricity fee of $0.15/kWh:
PLA monthly electricity fee: $5.76
PLA+ monthly electricity fee: 7.38 (increase of 1.62)
(2)Energy-saving tips
Enable sleep mode: Automatically cool down during non-printing hours, saving 15% energy consumption
Use a closed structure: Reduce heat loss from the hot bed, reducing heating power consumption by 20%
3. Material storage cost: double the investment in moisture-proofing
The moisture absorption rate of PLA+ is 40% faster than that of PLA, and the storage requirements are more stringent:
| Conditions | PLA moisture content (24h) | PLA+ moisture content (24h) |
|---|---|---|
| 30°C/60%RH | 0.4% | 0.7% |
| Printing directly without drying | Bubble defect rate 5% | Layer crack defect rate 25% |
Necessary investment:
Electronic drying oven: $50-80 (humidity <10%)
Consumable desiccant: $2-3 per month (silica gel replacement frequency increased)
4. Failure rate cost: Novices have a scrap rate as high as 35%
PLA+’s sensitivity to parameters leads to a surge in the initial printing failure rate:
| User type | PLA failure rate | PLA+ failure rate | Main failure reasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novice | 15% | 35% | Improper temperature setting, excessive cooling |
| Experienced user | 5% | 10% | Layer height > 0.2mm leads to insufficient strength |
Cost conversion: Calculated at 30/kg material, the potential waste cost of each roll of PLA+ is 10.5 (novice).
5. Time cost: Post-processing time increases
In order to give full play to the performance advantages of PLA+, additional post-processing steps are often required:
Annealing: 2 hours (80°C oven)
UV protective coating: 30 minutes spraying + curing
Precision calibration: 20 minutes PID adjustment is required for each material change
6. Comprehensive cost comparison table
| Cost item | PLA（$/月） | PLA+（$/月） | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material loss | 4.5 | 7.2 | +60% |
| Electricity consumption | 5.76 | 7.38 | +28% |
| Equipment depreciation | 1.2 | 3.5 | +192% |
| Storage maintenance | 2.0 | 4.0 | +100% |
| Total | 13.46 | 22.08 | +64% |
7. Cost reduction and efficiency improvement strategy
(1)Hardware upgrade plan
Nozzle: Use ruby nozzle (lifetime 5000h+), long-term cost reduction by 80%
Hot bed: Install silicone insulation pad to reduce heating energy consumption by 30%
(2)Printing parameter optimization
Layer thickness: 0.2mm (balance strength and consumable efficiency)
Filling rate: Gyroid structure is used for dynamic load parts, saving 15% of materials at the same strength
(3)Consumable management skills
Vacuum packaging: Pack PLA+ into 500g/bag and use it within 72 hours after opening
Drying and reuse: Scrapped parts can be recycled by crusher and used as filler after drying at 80°C
Food contact certification differences?
1. Differences in food contact certification: PLA+ faces more stringent testing
(1) Comparison of FDA standards (21 CFR 177.1520)
| Test items | PLA requirements | PLA+ additional requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Plasticizer migration amount | No mandatory requirement | ≤0.05mg/dm² (48h water immersion) |
| Heavy metal antimony (Sb) | No clear limit | ＜0.01ppm |
| Total migration amount | ≤10mg/dm² (deionized water) | ≤8mg/dm² (acid/grease) |
PLA+ detection difficulties:
Plasticizers (such as DINCH, ATBC) need to be detected by GC-MS (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry);
Antimony comes from catalyst residues, and the detection accuracy is required to reach ppb level (ICP-MS method).
(2)Applicable scene restrictions
PLA: can be used in short-term contact scenes (<24h) such as cold drink cups and fruit trays;
PLA+: must pass FDA Food Contact Notification (FCN) certification before it can be used for hot food packaging (<60°C).
What are the three core flaws of PLA+?
1.Moisture and heat sensitivity: the strength decay rate is amazing
Experimental data (85% humidity/48h):
| Material | Bending strength retention rate | Elongation at break change |
|---|---|---|
| PLA | 45% | -30% |
| PLA+ | 60% | -15% |
Countermeasures:
Add 3% silane coupling agent coating to increase humidity tolerance to 90%;
Use vacuum bag + desiccant during storage (humidity <15%).
2. Post-processing problem: limited solvent selection
| Post-processing method | PLA effect | PLA+ compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Acetone polishing | Smooth surface (Ra 0.5μm) | Failure (chloroform-based solvent required) |
| Sandblasting | Uniform matte texture | Easy to excessively wear additives |
Alternatives:
Use PLA+ special polishing liquid (such as Polymaker CF-01);
Prefer frosted surface printing (layer height 0.1mm + texture modeling).
3. Recycling dilemma: mixed contamination risk
The difference in melt index between the elastomer (such as TPU) in PLA+ and ordinary PLA is greater than 50%. Mixed recycling will result in:
The strength of the recycled material decreases by 70%;
The probability of extruder blockage increases by 300%.
Recycling suggestions:
Strictly classify recycling bins (PLA+ is marked separately);
Use crusher pre-processing (particle size <3mm) to improve compatibility.
How to quickly identify PLA and PLA+?
4 steps to quickly identify PLA and PLA+
1. Combustion test method
| Characteristics | PLA | PLA+ |
|---|---|---|
| Flame color | Yellow (no smoke) | Yellow + light blue edge |
| Odor | Sweet (similar to caramel) | Slightly pungent (elastomer decomposition) |
| Residue | White ash | Black lumps |
Principle: The elastomer (TPU) in PLA+ contains nitrogen, which releases trace cyanide when burning, forming a blue flame.
2. Density detection method
PLA: 1.24-1.26g/cm³ (floating on saturated salt water);
PLA+: 1.28-1.32g/cm³ (slowly sinking).
Operation steps:
Prepare a sodium chloride solution with a density of 1.27g/cm³;
Input material sample: PLA floats and PLA+ sinks.
3. Melting point test (DSC method)
PLA: melting point 150-160°C (single endothermic peak);
PLA+: double endothermic peaks (PLA phase 155°C + elastomer phase 190-220°C).
4. Chemical reagent reaction
Adding dichloromethane:
PLA: surface dissolution within 10 seconds;
PLA+: local swelling after 30 seconds (elastomer resists solvent).
Conclusion
The choice between PLA and PLA+ is not a simple “upgrade or not”, but a precise trade-off based on the application scenario. PLA is still an ideal choice for low-intensity scenarios such as education and decorative models due to its low cost, ease of use and environmental protection; while PLA+ has demonstrated irreplaceable advantages in functional parts, engineering prototypes and outdoor applications through elastomer toughening and crystallization regulation. It is worth noting that the approximately 40% increase in the overall cost of PLA+ (including hidden costs such as equipment loss and energy consumption) requires users to conduct a strict ROI assessment. In the future, with the advancement of modification technology, we may see PLA+ further narrowing the performance gap with engineering plastics while maintaining its bio-based characteristics, but at this stage, rationally recognizing the performance boundaries of the two materials is the key to realizing the maximum value of 3D printing.
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The content appearing on this webpage is for informational purposes only. LS makes no representation or warranty of any kind, be it expressed or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness, or validity of the information. Any performance parameters, geometric tolerances, specific design features, quality and types of materials, or processes should not be inferred to represent what will be delivered by third-party suppliers or manufacturers through LS’s network. Buyers seeking quotes for parts are responsible for defining the specific requirements for those parts. Please contact to our for more information.
Team LS
This article was written by various LS contributors. LS is a leading resource on manufacturing with CNC machining, sheet metal fabrication, 3D printing, injection molding,metal stamping and more.
FAQs
1. Is there any difference between PLA and PLA?
PLA is an enhanced version of PLA, which increases flexural strength by 58% (95MPa vs 60MPa), interlayer adhesion by 80% (18MPa vs 10MPa), and has higher temperature resistance by adding modified ingredients such as tougheners and nanofillers. Modified formulations of PLA may also contain anti-UV agents or lubricants to make the finished product more resistant to aging in outdoor use while reducing nozzle wear when printing. However, the formulations of different brands of PLA vary greatly, such as Polymaker’s PolyPlus series with the addition of elastomers, while eSun’s PLA focuses on interlayer bonding improvement.
2. Is PLA as tough as PLA?
Not. PLA has significantly stronger mechanical properties, 40%-60% higher impact resistance (ASTM D256 test standard), and Z-axis interlaminar strength of 18MPa (80% higher than PLA), which is more suitable for load-bearing and functional parts. In the actual test, the PLA gear can withstand 2 million cycles of wear, while the PLA cracks after 800,000 cycles. However, PLA is slightly less rigid (about 15% decrease in elastic modulus) and may not be as rigid as PLA in scenarios that require absolute rigidity (e.g., precision stents).
3. What is the temperature difference between PLA and PLA?
The heat deflection temperature difference is about 10-15°C. PLA typically withstands 50-60°C (at 1.82 MPa load) and PLA can reach 55-70°C (depending on the brand formulation). For example, Proto-pasta’s HT-PLA is resistant to 100°C by nucleation modification, but requires post-heat treatment. Note: The glass transition temperature (Tg) of PLA is still similar to that of PLA (about 60°C), and the long-term creep problem at high temperatures has not been completely solved.
4. What are the disadvantages of PLA?
(1) The cost is 20%-30% higher than PLA (the difference is 5-10 US dollars per kilogram); (2) Higher printing temperature (205-225°C) and accurate parameter adjustment (such as 20% reduction in cooling rate) are required; (3) Some brand modified formulations reduce environmental protection (such as containing petroleum-based plasticizers); (4) Excessive toughness leads to an increase in the difficulty of grinding fine carved parts (Vickers hardness decreases by about 10%). In addition, the shrinkage rate of PLA is 0.2-0.3% greater than that of PLA, and large-sized parts are more prone to warping, which requires precise control of the temperature of the hot bed (60-70°C is recommended).
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