PLA

BigRep PLA (Polylactic Acid) is a thermoplastic aliphatic polyester that is obtained from renewable sources such as corn, sugar cane, grain or sugar beet. Being extracted from biological resources, this type of thermoplastic can be biodegradable under the right conditions. Therefore, PLA is less polluting than other thermoplastics made from fossil fuels.

PLA can be processed by extrusion, 3D printing, injection molding, film and plate casting and is suitable for a wide variety of applications. PLA is inherently transparent and can be colored in different degrees of translucency and opacity.

Compared to other polymers, PLA is an easy-to-use 3D printer filament. It can print at low to medium temperatures and higher speeds via FFF / FDM. The mechanical behavior as well as other properties of the end product depend heavily on the 3D printing conditions such as extruder temperature, extrusion speed, cooling system etc. PLA has significantly less deformation than other polymers used for 3D printing, making it possible to print successfully without a special cooling system. For applications with higher humidity (over 98%) and higher temperatures (over 60 ° C) other polymers like Pro HT and PETG should be used.