PLA
PLA (polylactide) is a thermoplastic polymer made from renewable resources. This feature sets it apart from other commonly used plastics. PLA is ideal for low-cost prototyping and functional parts under light loads.
Usage / Features
PLA is made from renewable resources, such as corn starch, making it biodegradable and environmentally friendly. It does not shrink significantly when cooling, leading to high dimensional accuracy and minimal risk of warping during printing.
Advantages
Eco-friendliness
Eco-friendliness
Good dimensional stability
Disadvantages
Low heat resistance
Low heat resistance
Brittleness
Technical Specifications
Tensile strength
26.8 - 70 MPa
Tensile modulus
1817 - 3973 MPa
Elongation at break
1.9 - 20%
Flexural strength
46.2 - 88 MPa
Flexural modulus
2461 - 3800 MPa
HDT (at 0.45 MPa)
50 - 55°C
Examples